Tory 'traitor' controversy (From Stroud News and Journal)

Tory 'traitor' controversy

A ONE-man election day protest which may have cost the Conservatives a seat on Stroud District Council is to be investigated.

The shock result of Thursday's election was undoubtedly the Green's victory over the Conservatives in Thrupp.

Tory Roy Nicholas was defeated by Green Martin Whiteside in the Thrupp ward, previously held by Labour.

Green party candidate for Bisley Steve Penny staged the protest not far from the Bownham Park School polling station on election day.

He was holding a placard bearing the words 'Tory TETRA traitor'. Mr Nicholas lost to Mr Whiteside by 41 votes.

Last month Mr Nicholas was one of four senior councillors and SDC planners who caused uproar when they decided not to contest appeals against the emergency services' new TETRA communications system.

As former chairman of the development control committee he had opposed TETRA applications in the past but he was one of a group of officers and councillors who made a policy U-turn by not opposing the three latest appeals. They believed further opposition would break local government finance rules.

The decision angered many campaigners at the time, including Mr Penny. He declined to comment on his election day protest, which was made beyond the regulation distance from the polling station. Green party chiefs believed he was not acting illegally but refused to comment further.

The Conservative group is expected to investigate the matter later this week.