Councillors frittering away tax cash, claims ex-Ludlow mayor

A former mayor of Ludlow has resigned from the town council, claiming the authority has been taken over by politically-motivated outsiders who 'fritter away' taxpayers' cash.

Long-serving member Marie Glaze made the parting shot after stepping down with immediate effect alongside Amanda Pope, who was deputy mayor until April.

The pair handed their resignations to mayor John Aitken on Friday, although Mrs Pope has said she has left the council purely to concentrate on her family's launderette business.

Mrs Glaze, the mayor from 2006 to 2007 who represented the Clee View ward, said: "I've been a councillor for 15 years and enjoyed most of my time representing the people of Ludlow. But these past few months I feel my efforts are going to waste.

"The town council has been taken over by people who move to this town with their own agendas and become town councillors just to carry out their own big ideas and fritter away ratepayers' money. Us councillors who are Ludlow born and bred no longer have a say. I strongly urge the people of this town to call for an election for the vacant seats."

Mrs Pope said: "Serving the town has been a very worthwhile experience."

Town clerk Veronica Cal- derbank said she was disappointed by Mrs Glaze's sta- tement and denied money was being 'frittered away'.

She said: "Ludlow Town Council is more successful than it has ever been."