Hyndburn Tory reveals why he has quit group

12:01pm Friday 16th May 2008

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By Emma Cruces »

A COUNCILLOR has denied claims he quit Hyndburn's Conservative group solely over a housing estate land row.

Conservative group leader Peter Britcliffe has accused Coun Dave Mason of quitting to stand independently because he was unable to buy land from the council for housing at a cut-price rate.

Amid calls for him to quit, Coun Mason hit saying he resigned over a 'lack of democracy' within the group and as he felt isolated from cabinet decisions.

However in his resignation letter to Coun Britcliffe, he lists the conflict over the bakery site' in Great Harwood as his main reason, saying it left him in "an impossible position".

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph, Coun Mason said he had bought the land, known as Old Eddleston's bakery off Church Road, to develop for housing in 2000, and had only discovered a council mistake with the boundary line recently.

He said this led to a dispute over the value of this extra land. He said he felt it was the authority's mistake and he should be able to purchase it at its former, not current, value.

Coun Britcliffe said the boundary issue was actually raised by Coun Mason and is a matter for the Land Registry. He said moving the boundary would give Coun Mason an extra 23 per cent of the total area.

Coun Britcliffe, in a letter read out to the full council, said: "For 12 months we have tried to work calmly with Coun Mason despite continued threats of stepping down as the 'land issue' wasn't being resolved quickly enough."

However Coun Mason accused Coun Britcliffe of 'double standards', saying: "When Labour councillors have left to stand independently, he says it's marvellous, but when it's one of their own, it's 'disgusting'.

"There is a misconception I've left over the on-going dispute over land, but it's because it has been a pressure cooker for the last few years.

"I felt I could serve better without all the red tape."