NEWS SHOPPER: Councillors call for by-election

2.38.32pm GMT Thu 25th Aug 2005

A COUNCILLOR picking up nearly £10,000-a-year in allowances while running a Cornish hotel is being urged to step down and allow a by-election to be held.

Councillor Chris Wordingham, who represents West Wickham ward, has been running the business in Cornwall for the past few months while continuing to claim his £9,470 basic allowance.

The Conservative councillor, who sold his home in Mount Pleasant, Biggin Hill, in April, failed to attend the last full council meeting on July 4 and is presently on no committees or working parties.

He holds no surgeries, has no landline contact phone number, his mobile is constantly switched off and he does not respond to emails.

Opposition parties are now calling for Cllr Wordingham to resign and allow a by-election, but the Tories are refusing.

Liberal Democrat group chairman Councillor Grace Goodlad said: "I think it's terrible that he's taking £10,000-a-year but not representing the residents.

"If I lived in West Wickham I'd be demanding a third off my council tax. There should be no taxation without representation."

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