Flak flies as councillor quits after four months

From the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, first published Thursday 5th Jan 2006.

DISTRICT councillor James Elford resigned his seat just four months after winning it to look after his sick wife.

Conservative Coun Elford snatched victory with only a single vote majority, beating Liberal Democrat candidate John Webb on August 25 in the Lyneham and Bradenstoke ward of North Wiltshire District Council.

But just before Christmas, on December 21, Coun Elford stepped down after the pressures of balancing civic duties with looking after his sick wife proved too difficult.

Tory leader Toby Sturgis said Coun Elford had stood down because he was finding it difficult juggling his council duties with caring for his wife Carol, who has MS.

"It was always going to be difficult but he thought he could find cover for looking after her," said Coun Sturgis.

"I think he found it was more difficult than he anticipated. He had said to me he found it more difficult being on a task groups that meet at irregular hours."

His resignation means the staging of another by-election, a process that the district council says generally costs around £3,000, and Mr Webb is furious.

"What a waste another Lyneham and Bradenstoke by-election," said Mr Webb.

"Now council tax payers face a bill for another by-election of thousands for printing poll cards, paying council staff and police at the polling stations and count. I know how much work is involved in being a local councillor. So before I stood for the Liberal Democrats I thought carefully about my life and my responsibilities to the people if I was elected."

He said the money could be better spent on improving street lighting, road safety measures, homes for local families and recycling and proposed the Conservatives should not contest the election this time.

Coun Sturgis, said they would be contesting the election and already had a candidate lined up.

He said Coun Elford was a member of the task group looking into the provision of public conveniences and they had three or four meetings within a month.

"He was very enthusiastic and did a good job, but he found it difficult," said Coun Sturgis.

"He is somebody who wanted to do it 100 per cent right. He was hard working and added to the work of the committee so it is disappointing to lose him.

"We will fight the seat and hope to retain it with a bigger majority."

It was the second time Coun Elford had contested the seat. It was held by Lib Dem Dennis Constable until July 2005.

Every seat is critical in maintaining the balance of power at the Liberal Democrat controlled district council.

The seats are currently held by 26 Conservatives, 25 Lib Dems, one Labour and one Independent. Although the Conservatives are the largest single party the Lib Dems run the administration because the Labour and Independent members have aligned with them.

Archive Home