TWO Tory councillors stormed out of last week’s meeting of Frinton and Walton Town Council.

The move followed bickering between Conservatives Anne Cossens and Delyth Miles and their rival Tendring First councillors.

Tensions had been heightened when Frinton resident and UKIP district councillor Richard Everett quizzed councillors about town council by-elections.

The town council recently staged a by-election in Walton, which followed the resignation of Conservative Dave Fitz-Hardy and won by Anne Oxley of Tendring First.

Another is on the cards in the New Year following the “sacking” of Conservative Mark Brown of Frinton, who failed to attend meetings for six months while recovering from cancer treatment.

Mr Everett asked if the council was being undemocratic by questioning the £5,000 cost of running each poll, or incompetent in not setting aside the funds for them?

Tendring First councillors rejected such a view, but Conservative Delyth Miles said Frinton and Walton Town Council was undemocratic, saying she, as a Conservative, had been denied membership of certain committees.

Mayor Jack Robertson of Tendring First said the council can afford to run elections and had “never said we have not got the money for elections.”

“Once someone resigns, it goes through the processes that the by-election will cost £4,000-£5,000. We have the money for it,” he said.

Mr Everett, responded: “Personally, as a resident. It looks a shambles. The council has created its own shambles irrespective of party.”

Former town mayor and Tendring First member Terry Allen then blamed the by-election costs on Conservatives calling the by-elections when the council could have co-opted replacements.

“The people in Walton decided to put Coun Oxley there. The same thing (a Tendring First victory) will happen in Frinton,” he said.

“Democracy puts us (Tendring First) in control of this council,” he added.

After Delyth Miles made a brief comment about Tendring First being in control, deputy mayor Robert Bucke said to her: “I accuse you of bringing discredit on this council.”

Passions died down and the council moved on to dealing with planning applications.

Moments later, as they discussed one on Cliff Way, Mrs Cossens recalled a time when an “ex-boyfriend lived there.”

A comment came from the Tendring First part of the chamber.

“I have absolutely had enough,” said Mrs Cossens and she stormed out of the meeting.

Her colleague, Delyth Myles, the only other Conservative present that evening, then followed: “I’m not going to put up with it either.”