Council hits back at BNP man's claims

A town council has hit back at a British National Party member who resigned last week claiming the other councillors didn't talk to him.

Alan Warner resigned from Heanor and Loscoe Town Council and Denby Parish Council last week just ten months after being elected. He claims town and parish councils make no difference to the areas they represent and sitting on them is a waste of his time.

Mr Warner, who courted controversy last summer when he hosted the BNP's annual Red, White and Blue festival on his land near Denby village, said: "I wasn't getting any co-operation from the councillors in Heanor. Nobody spoke to me at the meetings. I just started to think 'I'm wasting my time here.' The parish and town councils have no power whatsoever. The borough council takes no notice of their comments I can assure you of that. I've got a daughter to look after and a small holding with animals that take up a lot of my time. I can't be out until 10pm at night not getting anywhere."

Mayor of Heanor and Loscoe Paul Jones defended his council's treatment of Mr Warner.
Cllr Jones said: "I'm disappointed that Cllr Warner didn't approach either myself or the
clerk if he had concerns regarding a lack of response from members. He is an experienced councillor who knows the protocol but he never indicated a desire to speak at any of the four out of ten meetings he attended. The only time he spoke was when the Red, White and Blue festival was going ahead on his land.

"He raised the issue that we have no power, so why did he stand in the first place to make a difference? We refute the suggestion that we can't make a difference. This council is involved with a project to turn the old fire station in Heanor into an arts centre, we help to organise the Mayday Market in town and also contribute thousands in grants to projects like a sports leadership award for young people among many other things."

The vacant seat will now be advertised and a by-election held if ten or more candidates come forward.

Ripley and Heanor News