Calne town councillor to go her own way (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Calne town councillor to go her own way

3:00pm Saturday 12th May 2012 in News

Calne town councillor Caroline Ramsey has left the Conservative Party to become an independent.

Coun Ramsey, who represents the Lickhill ward and is chairman of the planning and development committee, said she felt she had no option after taking a new job.

She was recently employed by Wiltshire Council’s public protection department and said there was potential for a conflict of interest. Her former party affiliation also clashed with her community engagements, including being on the board of Calne Leisure Centre.

Coun Ramsey, of Oxford Road, a former police officer with the Metropolitan Police, said: “It is better that I am not affiliated with any of the parties. It is something I have been thinking about for quite some time.

“I think sometimes my involvement with the party has detracted from the various community projects I am associated with.”

She said this was her only option, other than to resign, which would force a by-election. Calne has already had one by-election in 2012, where Tory teenager Phil Redmond took the vacant Marden seat, beating Liberal Democrat Ross Henning.

Coun Ramsey said: “I felt the only other option would have been to step down and force the council into another by-election.

“I don’t believe that would be the right thing to do as it would cost the tax-payer.”