A MALAISE has hit hospital campaign party Health Concern after the third district councillor in three months quit the group.

Councillor David Gourley said he would be truly independent after his decision to leave the party whose members were elected on an independent ticket.

He is uncomfortable with the ruling coalition of Health Concern, Conservatives, Liberal Democrat and Liberal councillors on Wyre Forest District Council which is lined up against Labour.

He said: "There is no whip with Health Concern but if, for example, I agreed with Labour on a motion and voted with them, it would be frowned upon.

"I left for personal reasons - there is no animosity between myself and other Health Concern councillors."

He added: "I feel I can better represent the people of Broadwaters on all issues by becoming independent. Now I have made the decision it has lifted a load off my plate."

It is the latest round of musical chairs for Health Concern members.

Mr Gourley, who originally stood for council two years ago as an independent before joining Health Concern, will now link up with Ron White - as an independent.

Mr White, who was originally elected as a Labour councillor in 1996 before leaving for Independent Labour, quit Health Concern in March amid the storm over a housing allocation to former colleague Rachel Lewis.

She was suspended by the group for not declaring an interest in a housing application made by her brother.

Mrs Lewis was cleared of any wrong-doing over her own application by the district council. However, last week she announced she had left Health Concern for the Liberal Party.

Health Concern leader Elizabeth Davies was saddened and bemused by the latest departure from the group which campaigned on being above party politics.

She said: "I don't believe we will have any more members leave. We have a stable ship now.

"David told us he was leaving for personal reasons. I do not see his other claims as reasons for leaving.

"We do not have a whip and if he wished to vote with another party all he had to do was tell his colleagues."

The new make-up of the council is: Health Concern 16, Labour 11, Conserv-ative 5, Liberal Democrat 4, Liberal 4, Independent 2.