A FORMER Wyre Forest District Council chairman lost his seat on the authority after failing to attend a meeting in more than six months.

Independent councillor Gordon Yarranton will no longer serve the Wribbenhall & Areley ward as a result of his non-attendance since appearing at full council on September 27 last year.

But Councillor Yarranton, who is still an elected member on Bewdley Town and Kidderminster Foreign Parish Councils, said he had run his remaining time on district down prior to next month’s elections.

He told the Shuttle that health issues has prompted his decision and didn’t resign immediately as a by-election would have cost taxpayers thousands.

Councillor Yarranton was elected to Wyre Forest District 12 years ago as a Conservative but quit the party in 2016 following a row with leader Marcus Hart over “political interference” in an issue on bus services in his county council ward of Cookley.

He continued as an independent on all the councils he sat on but lost his seat on Worcestershire County Council last year. Earlier this year, he had resigned from Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council.

The 75-year-old said: “A few months ago, I suffered a chest infection and had a few hospital appointments to attend. This felt like a warning for me to slow down and take it easy.

“I did think about resigning immediately but a by-election would have cost around £17,500 of taxpayers’ money and so I decided to finish my term and not stand in May when my seat was up.

“I have been and will continue to do my work for local people in the community I was elected to serve through the town and parish councils.

“I’m pleased with what I have achieved in my time. I have been chairman of both district and county councils as well as chair of the planning committee.”

A spokesman for Wyre Forest District Council confirmed Councillor Yarranton was no longer a member of the authority, in accordance with rules set out in the Local Government Act 1972.