Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate John Kiely (pictured, right, with Cllr Jon Williams) has hit back in a row over Ronnie Conway-Haskins’ decision to leave the party.

Mrs Conway-Haskins told The Bradley Stoke Examiner that she had ditched them after a quote, which was wrongly attributed to her, was included in a party publication.

She said the leaflet claimed she had critcised Bradley Stoke Town Council for not discussing the Aztec West roundabout consultation - the article is republished on the Lib Dem website.

Mr Kiely issued a lengthy statement to us saying that using the issue over the roundabout to leave the party was “strange” and that she had discussed leaving the party with him “several weeks ago”.

The statement said:”… to use the issue of the Aztec west roundabout as the ‘issue of integrity’ in which to tender her resignation seems unusually strange. It was Ronnie who raised with me the issue of lack of consultation over the Aztec roundabout.

“We were both rightly concerned at the lack of local Councillor and resident involvement over what are major changes to the busiest roundabout in the Town.”

The former mayor, Mrs Conway-Haskins, has now become and independent saying she is still ”focused on doing the best for the people of Bradley Stoke.”

We’ve included the full statement below for you to read:

I am obviously saddened by Cllr Ronnie Conway-Haskins decision to resign from the party and become an independent but as she mentioned to me several weeks ago her desire to become one, the decision has not come as a surprise.
 
But to use the issue of the Aztec west roundabout as the ‘issue of integrity’ in which to tender her resignation seems unusually strange.  It was Ronnie who raised with me the issue of lack of consultation over the Aztec roundabout.  We were both rightly concerned at the lack of local Councillor and resident involvement over what are major changes to the busiest roundabout in the Town.  
 
Our Focus newsletter reflected her view about that process, but yet she appears to be implying in her resignation statement that what was printed is not factual, the Town Council have not formally put the Aztec roundabout plan on their agenda so how would residents know it was being discussed?  
 
The fact that she had to check with the Council shows that she herself was unaware, but according to the minutes of the last planning meeting (23/04/08) it was only raised through a public submission to alterations to the Pear Tree Rd roundabout and so the Council itself did not raise the issue on behalf of local people, which means the Focus story is correct.
 
so I am unclear how her integrity has been compromised?  Maybe she might explain how she and other residents were consulted and what the Council did with their submissions?
 
We all know from the way that the Council have dealt with the Bowls and youth clubs that their consultation and involvement processes are sadly deficient.
 
I believe that the current Conservative run Council has adopted a hectoring approach to both local residents and opposition members on Bradley Stoke Town Council and I feel this has had an impact on Cllr Conway - Haskins and others.   
 
Regardless, I do hope that she will still work with us for the benefit of Bradley Stoke residents.