TORIES on Hyndburn Council have vowed to keep their grip on power after severing links with outspoken independent councillor Adrian Shurmer.

The ruling Conservative group has booted Coun Shurmer off three committees after he formally withdrew support for the party.

Coun Shurmer was seen as the council's power broker after his vote secured the Tories control. But now he has called for council leader Peter Britcliffe to resign, branding him a "dreadfully weak" leader.

The Tories are now level on 23 seats with Labour but the two parties have agreed that the Tories should continue at the helm until next spring's local elections.

Coun Shurmer, who represents Netherton ward in Great Harwood, has lost his place on the budget and policy and resources committees as well as the management board. He was due to take up the role of vice-chairman of the latter after the environmental services committee was scrapped.

One consolation for Coun Shurmer is his chairmanship of the new traffic management panel, set up to review the borough's controversial "humps and bumps" road schemes.

He will also sit on the new highways and transportation committee and the development services committee, which is set to decide on controversial proposals for a new supermarket in his home town.

Coun Britcliffe said: "Proposals we put forward to the Labour group have been accepted and we will carry on in control of the council. "Coun Shurmer had an agreement when he supported us which meant he had more than his fair share of seats on committees.

"He has withdrawn from that agreement and we no longer feel under any obligation to provide him with extra seats. We have replaced him on three committees with our members.

"He will still be able to express his views on planning applications in Great Harwood and we feel it is right he should lead the traffic calming investigation."

Coun Shurmer said: "I would remind Coun Britcliffe that in May I was elected with the highest turnout and second highest majority when I removed a very stubborn politician in former council leader George Slynn.

"I think Coun Britcliffe is a dreadfully weak leader and I am calling on him to resign in the interests of the borough.

"I was elected to speak up for the majority and he cannot push me aside like this."

Labour leader Ken Curtis added: "We held a group meeting after receiving the Conservatives' proposals to soldier on and we agreed to let them get on with it."

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