THE Conservative group on West Devon Borough Council has lost one member after the councillor for Tavistock North last week announced she had resigned from the party with immediate effect.
Caroline Keane, who is also a town councillor, wrote to Tory group leader Dick Eberlie on September 20 to inform him of her intentions.
She has decided to call a public meeting to discuss options with the Tavistock North electorate. This will be held on October 24 in the town hall at 7pm.
Cllr Eberlie said Cllr Keane resigned because of the widening gap between her views and those of the Conservative Party.
He said he greeted her resignation with sadness.
'She had lots of ideas that were very useful and helpful for the town. I feel concern, because she's on her own now and concern for the people of Tavistock, in the sense that they elected her under the Conservative banner.
'I think my feeling would be that she should tell the people of Tavistock herself — the correct thing to do would be to resign and stand again if she wants to,' he said.
He said Cllr Keane's seat on the planning committee will now be taken by Cllr Christopher Hill, the member for Thrushel. Cllr Dilwyn Hughes, member for Milton Ford, will take her seat on the environment committee.
Cllr Keane was elected to the borough in May 1999. Her resignation from the Tory group changes the make up of the borough council to nine Conservative, eight Liberal Democrat and 13 Independents.
Cllr Keane was unavailable for comment as the Times went to press this week.