Shepway Lib Dems Join Call for the Hythe Conservative Councillors Living in Bath to Resign
Shepway District Councillor and Local Liberal Democrat Party Chair Tim Prater has joined the calls for Conservative Councillors for Hythe West Linda and John Oliver to resign. The call in interviews with BBC South East and local radio station KMFM adds to those of local residents and the local Herald newspaper, who are also calling for her resignation.
The Olivers were elected in May, with John and Linda Oliver both being elected to Hythe Town Council and Linda Oliver also being elected to Shepway District Council. In December they moved to Bath to be nearer friends and family, but have still not resigned as Councillors for Hythe nearly 3 months later. Councillor Linda Oliver is now claiming she can continue to do her job from Bath - a claim rejected as "Hogwash" by the local "Herald" newspaper in an editorial last week.
In interviews with BBC South East and KMFM, Tim Prater called on the Olivers to do the honourable thing and resign - as they pledged they would in November when it was first revealed that the Councillors were moving to Bath - 180 miles away from Hythe.
An article on the Shepway Conservatives web site dated 12 November read:
"Hythe West Councillor Linda Oliver is set to step down from Shepway District in the New Year - and she and her husband, John, will also be leaving Hythe Town Council, on which they both represent the town's West ward.
"They are moving to Bath, Somerset, to be closer to their family, and their home in Hythe is on the market. Mrs Oliver has taken early retirement.
"Mrs Oliver said: 'We are very sorry to be leaving Hythe where we have made many friends, and it has been an honour for me to represent the people of Hythe West on Shepway.'
"Mr Oliver, who recently retired himself, added: 'We shall both be doing our very best to continue to do all we can for our ward constituents until we move.'
"Hythe Mayor, Cllr Alan Ewart James, added: 'Both John and Linda have been very worthy members of the Town council, contributing an immense amount of good and I suspect they will continue to do so until they move.'
"Folkestone & Hythe Conservative Agent, Gordon Williams, said: 'John and Linda have worked very hard for the local party during their period in office and we appreciate that very much. When they can no longer fulfil their elected role in the community we will call a by-election.'"
Tim Prater commented:
"It's perfectly clear to everyone - except it seems the Conservatives and the Olivers - that it is not acceptable to live in Bath and claim to represent people in Hythe. They were elected as LOCAL councillors in May. Linda Oliver receives £260 a month to be a LOCAL Councillor in Shepway.
"When the Olivers stood for Council in May, they had to live, work or vote in Shepway or they would not have been legally able to stand. Even if they had lived and voted nearby in Ashford, Hastings or Dover that would not have been close enough. So just nine months later, how can they possibly try to defend living over 180 miles away in Bath and claim they can represent local people?
"To claim that you can represent people by email from 180 miles away is simply wrong. There are times you have to see people face to face, to look into local problems on the ground, to meet people in your ward and town. Many local residents still don't have email, and many more would prefer to discuss problems face to face rather than speak to a Councillor on the phone.
"Rather than keep trying to hang on, the Conservatives and the Olivers need to stop defending the indefensible.
"They need to treat the people they were elected to serve with just a little more respect. In short, as the Herald said last week - The Olivers should resign."
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