The controversial gypsy and traveller race row has caused a town councillor to dramatically resign.

Sandra Sarll who has been a member of Arlesey Town Council for five years, felt that her views were not being listened to over the issue.
Mid Beds District Council has banned thousands of objections to proposed sites due to remarks it deemed racist.

The former councillor felt that she was being ignored over a number of issues, but in particular when she repeatedly told the town council to communicate more with the residents over the race row.

Mrs Sarll, 58, said: "The last straw for me really came when I attended a meeting and a councillor piped up with the idea I had been saying for weeks and everyone agreed.

"It just made me think what's the point in being a councillor if I'm not even being listened to. One of the aims of the council is to keep residents informed and I really don't think councillors are doing that.
"I would like to say sorry to all the residents who voted for me for letting them down."

Mrs Sarll of Carters Close, Arlesey has not spoken to any of the councillors since she made the decision to resign, but did receive an acknowledgement.

She added: "I am very sad that my council career has ended this way and I don't want to fall out with the town council.

"I don't have a problem with any individual members because they are lovely people who work very hard, it's just that the council, as a whole, needs to communicate with the residents over all matters, not just the gypsy row."

Town council chairman Hugh Harper praised Mrs Sarll as a good councillor and said he wasn't aware of her feeling that the council was not listening to her.

He said: "The town council consulted with the Arlesey residents by the way of a public meeting at the Second Issues and Option document stage of the Gypsy and Traveller consultation.

"The town council is restricted by the Local Development Framework and the next stage is The Preferred Options document due to be published this summer.

"This is when the town council will again consult with residents."