Another Bucks Tory defects to Independents as local elections less than 100 days away

Another Tory has defected to the Independents ahead of the local elections to Buckinghamshire Council on May 1.

Chiltern Villages Councillor Mark Turner said leaving the Conservative Party allowed him ‘more freedom to speak up for residents across the county’.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “With local government finances so tight, we really need to move beyond party politics and for all members of the new council to work together on positive outcomes for residents and businesses.”

Announcing his exit this week, Cllr Turner confirmed Marlow Bottom and Lane End were to be removed from Chiltern Villages and placed in other wards at the next election.

This means the Chiltern Villages ward would also include Little Marlow, the location of the proposed film studios, which the council refused last year, and which are being reconsidered by a public inquiry this week.

Cllr Turner said: “I am very much aware of the concerns of Little Marlow residents.

“I am in agreement with the decision to refuse the Marlow Film Studios and if elected will support Little Marlow residents as I have supported all the Chiltern villages in the ward this last four years.”

Having become an Independent, the candidate said he would not continue in his role as chair of the South West Chilterns Community Board.

The councillor explained his ‘opposition’ to changes to the Community Boards and funding cuts for community projects were part of his reason for becoming Independent.

He added: “I don’t know what will happen to my position on the West Area Planning Committee as yet.

“Committees are a pro rata mix of members by party.”

Cllr Turner is now one of at least 25 Independents standing in the May elections, which is believed to be a ‘record’ number of unaffiliated candidates.

The group includes Cllr Stuart Wilson, who currently leads the Independents on the council, as well as Cllr Diana Blamires, who left the Conservatives last year.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats also received a boost as Cllr Jonathan Waters joined the party last year after he also defected from the Conservatives.

The council currently has 147 councillors across 49 wards, but the number of councillors will be reduced to 97 at the May elections.

Cllr Turner said: “I remember the last election well. As a ‘first term’ councillor it was huge moment of personal pride for me that the people of the community where I live would put their trust in me to be their representative in the new Buckinghamshire Unitary Council

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my first term as a local councillor and have managed to achieve a lot for Chiltern Villages in a short time.

“I am very keen to serve another term but due to the boundary changes, I need to do this as Independent.”