A CONSERVATIVE councillor who has been deselected over fears that a huge housing estate could be built on the edge of Worcester has branded the process a “stitch-up.”

Councillor Don Hull has, along with fellow Tory Councillor Aubrey Tarbuck, been removed as a party candidate for the Broadheath ward of Malvern Hills District Council in the May elections.

Both say they are prepared to stand as independent candidates and Coun Hull said: “I’ll be independent, I rely on the people in my ward who don’t give a monkeys about party politics and want me to work for them.

“But the selection process was a stitch-up, and a lot of party members were clearly not aware it was happening.”

Coun Tarbuck has vowed to fight the seat he has held since 1991 on an independent ticket, saying he was “aghast” at the outcome.

“I had an inkling it might happen,” he said. “I will stand as an independent.”

Coun Tarbuck won re-election on his other seat in neighbouring Worcester City Council, where he represents the St Peter’s ward.

If he stands as an independent against a Tory candidate he will be kicked out of the local Conservative association.

The West Worcestershire Conservative Association selection committee met in November following a ballot of party members in the ward.

Chris Cheeseman, West Worcestershire Conservative Association vice chairman – political, said he believes standing as an independent “would leave him in an awkward position with Worcester City Council.”

He said neither man had appealed the selection decision, but it was “understood Coun Hull will stand as an independent” and that his membership had “lapsed”.

Their seats will be fought for the Conservatives by leading members of an action group opposed to plans to build 4,000 homes on the western edge of Worcester.

The new candidates are Paul Swinburn, who has headed the high-profile Save Elgar’s Village campaign against the development, and Roger Bass, a Lower Broadheath parish councillor and SaEV’s vice-chairman.

Both men would resign their SaEV membership if elected. As we reported in your Worcester News on Friday, Bloor Homes has withdrawn the application, although it could be re-submitted in the future.

Villagers in Broadheath fear the scheme will ‘swamp’ their village.

Barbara Beard, chairman of Lower Broadheath Parish Council, said: “We need to make sure councillors can put 100 per cent effort into the issue.

“Councillor Tarbuck did sometimes miss Malvern meetings when he was at city council (where he represents St Peter’s).

“We’ve no problems with him personally.

“With councillor Hull, we felt he should have thought twice about standing as he has an option with the developers to build on his land – which meant he could not vote in any meetings where the issue was discussed.”