FROM its premises in Falkirk High Street over the last 15 years, Central FM 103.1 has kept an eye on the big local stories.

One of the biggest in recent months has been the travails of the town's MP, Eric Joyce.

The station personnel are now preparing to vacate their offices, prior to a move to nearby Stirling. Many local people wish Joyce would do what they describe as "the decent thing" – and vacate Falkirk too.

Some believe his decision to remain as an independent MP, after resigning from the Labour Party was "not a very moral thing to do." Joyce has represented the seat since December 2000.

Andrew Murray, the 24-year-old Head of News at the radio station, said: "We ran a recent poll on Joyce, and of the 400 people who voted, 80% wanted him to go. Only 19% wanted him to stay.

"That shows the strength of public feeling in the Forth Valley area about Joyce and his decision to stay on, as well as his decision not to talk about it.

"He has not really addressed the issue – and the survey seems to suggest the electorate feels as though he should."

In an open letter a month ago, the Falkirk Herald called on Joyce to step down immediately following the 'disgraceful episode' in the House of Commons bar and his subsequent conviction at Westminster magistrates court.

"It is apparent to us that you have lost the respect of many members of the public and it is our view that you are no longer a fit person to represent this constituency," the paper said.

Editor Colin Hume told the Sunday Herald: "He later told us it was a bold decision for us to publish that. He has been keeping his head down.

"With the local elections coming up I would guess he has probably been asked to maintain a low profile.

"We still think he should step down. Somebody who goes around head-butting people in a pub would expect to lose their job. I have sympathy with Mr Joyce's apparent drink problems but no-one can expect to be in a high-profile public position and behave like that [in the Commons bar] and expect to get away with it."

Little support is forthcoming, either, from the local Constituency Labour Party (CLP). CLP chairman Mr Martin Murray said this weekend: "I asked Johann Lamont [Scottish Labour leader] at the conference a couple of weeks ago if she felt we had handled the matter properly or otherwise. She said she was very pleased with how we had handled it. She felt that anyone in [Joyce's] circumstance could not continue [as an MP] either. Nobody in Falkirk CLP all those weeks ago felt that Eric could continue as a Labour member, though to be fair he felt the same way, and resigned."

As to whether Joyce might be tempted to stand again, in 2015, Martin said: "He probably would, but that is obviously conjecture. I don't think he woke up one morning thinking he would put himself out as an MP that night. [The incident in the Commons] was more of a loss-of-control issue."

On Falkirk's streets on Friday, many voters were equally outspoken.

Hubert Murray, a retired electrician of 83, said: "I just feel that he should do the right thing. If he is going to stay on, he's only going to be in it for the money. That's what people say."

Jean Letham, 75, said: "He did a stupid thing. My relatives in England have been laughing at him because he's such an idiot."

"He should do the decent thing," said Janet McGuire, 46, who has voted for Joyce in the past. "I think he's a bit of an embrrassment to the town now. This isn't the way you want your representative to behave, is it?"

A former soldier, Ross Robb, 56, said: "[MPs] are there to do a job but I don't trust any of them. There's worse happens. Me? I just don't vote for them."