A Tory councillor has left Wiltshire Council’s Conservative group after a series of “disappointments” and “non-delivery” for his residents.

Cllr Mike Sankey has reported that he feels “unshackled” representing Melksham East without “the burden of having to think if it’s in the interests of the party”.

The leader of the council, Richard Clewer, has maintained that Wiltshire Council has had “a great track record of delivery in the last four years”.

Cllr Sankey explained that he began to feel doubt when parking charges for blue badge holders were introduced in Wiltshire.

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Cllr Sankey was uncomfortable with the decision to introduce parking charges for blue badge holders in 2022.Cllr Sankey was "uncomfortable" with the decision to introduce parking charges for blue badge holders in 2022. (Image: Getty) He said: “I reluctantly voted for that because the motion was all wrapped up in the budget for the full council.”

Cllr Sankey also referred to issues within Melksham, such as the delays in the opening of the eastern relief road.

He said: “Wiltshire Council had allowed themselves to get into a position where it couldn’t be resolved which was really, really frustrating for myself and for residents.”

Cllr Clewer argued: “The issues we all face as councillors can be complex and often what may seem to be sensible solutions are not possible due to national legislation. 

“I spend a great deal of time talking to councillors and looking for solutions to the problems they raise but sometimes, especially around planning and highways issues, the solutions we might like are not possible because of that national legislation.”

However, Cllr Sankey also brought up the recent eviction of elderly Afghan refugees from their temporary accommodation at Kingsbury Square.

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Cllr Sankey said: “The council officers turned up to literally just chuck them out and leave them to their own devices, and I thought, they’ve done that, yet all the while Wiltshire Council have got empty houses, any one of which they would probably jump at the chance of having.”

At the time, Cllr Phil Alford, cabinet member for housing, reported that the refugees had refused offers of suitable properties, which the couple disputes.

Cllr Alford explained that, in line with legislation, they were no longer entitled to the temporary accommodation at Kingsbury Square but would be supported in finding a permanent home.

Finally, Cllr Sankey listed the council’s refusal to consider the motion on advertising statutory notices in paid-for newspapers and its long-running dispute with GMB as further reasons for his resignation.

Although the GMB dispute was a matter for the council’s CEO, Cllr Sankey believes the cabinet should have stepped in.

He concluded: “One of my residents said to me you’re sounding less like our elected representative and more like an apologist for Wiltshire Council, because as part of the ruling group there was an expectation to defend Wiltshire Council and stick up for and explain why things hadn’t happened or hadn’t been done.”

He added: “There are a lot of good things Conservatives have done and achieved, and there are a lot of good individual Conservative councillors who work hard and do a really good job of representing their residents.

“I just wonder if some of the cabinet members when contacted by backbenchers actually take their issues or the problems they’ve raised seriously enough and do enough to investigate and try to resolve them.”

Cllr Clewer responded: “I was very sorry to hear Cllr Sankey’s decision to leave the Conservative Party.

“Wiltshire Conservatives have a great track record of delivery in the last four years, for example investing an extra £20 million into our highways, reducing fly tipping by 40 per cent, investing in extra gulley cleaning and pothole repair teams, all investments that we have been able to carry out because of our sound management of the council’s finances.”

The leader added that the council was investing in libraries and leisure centres, building 1,000 new council houses to a zero-carbon standard, and investing significantly into housing provision through Stone Circle as well as delivering on a program to retrofit all council housing to an EPCB standard, saving residents money whilst reducing carbon emissions.