A 'PASSIONATE' Herefordshire councillor has resigned from his post after more than 14 years.

Bromyard West councillor Alan Seldon, part of Independents for Herefordshire, said it was not appropriate for him to continue in his role as he had and his wife Mary had moved away from the area.

He said the 14 years representing Bromyard West had been "probably the happiest ever" as the town's community was "second to none".

He has also more recently been vice-chairperson of Herefordshire Council's planning and regulatory committee, standing chairperson of licensing sub-committee and cabinet support member.

"Last month, Mary and I left our home of 19 years for the very last time," Mr Seldon said, also thanking those who had supported him.

"We had decided in the summer that it was time for us to move on. Therefore, it is not appropriate for me to stay on as the Herefordshire Council member for Bromyard West.

"So I have resigned from Herefordshire Council."

"I have represented Bromyard for over fourteen and a half years and those years have been probably the happiest ever.

"The community in the Town is second to none and it has been a great honour to have been elected on four occasions."

His resignation will trigger a by-election, with Coun John Harrington and Coun Nigel Shaw overseeing the ward until then.

Mr Seldon served for 22 years in the Regimental Band of Her Majesty’s Scots Guards and had worked in the education sector before moving to Bromyard in 2002.

He had previously said he was committed to Bromyard and Herefordshire, and was not frightened of making decisions while doing his upmost to safety the most vulnerable in society and protect them from cuts in services as far as possible.

Mr Seldon called for community first responders, volunteers who respond to 999 calls in their community, to be returned to Bromyard as he felt the town was being "starved" of resources.

He also previously led calls for policing cuts in the town to be stopped as feared it could lead to vigilantes on the streets.

Coun John Harrington, group leader for the Independents for Herefordshire party, said: "We shall miss Alan very much, he has been a diligent, passionate and effective ward councillor for his beloved Bromyard and Bromyard West wards for nearly 15 years.

"Within the independent groups he has always been known as a kind and decent man, who never failed to speak up or step up and show leadership on a variety of local and county issues and has always responded unfailing to his resident's requests and concerns.

"We will all be poorer without him about but understand, with his move out of the county, his decision to step down.

"We wish him and Mary – and the two lovely dogs – all the best as they sail off to pastures new and thank him for his long and true service to Bromyard and Herefordshire. Thank you, Alan."

Leader of the council David Hitchiner said: "Alan's position as a local government peer support consultant for independent councils gave the coalition access to someone with wide experience of how independent groups could work successfully in a coalition.

"His contribution will be missed."

Cabinet colleague and co-leader of It’s Our County Liz Harvey said: "I shall personally miss Alan’s great good humour and his cheerful support.

"Our time as joint leaders of It’s Our County saw us move the party from opposition to administration and Alan took this sometimes difficult journey serenely in his stride.

"Recognised nationally for his work in the independent group of the Local Government Association, Alan will be a loss to more than just to Herefordshire and to his favourite bit of it up on the Downs of Bromyard.

"We all thank him hugely for his public service and wish him and Mary much happiness wherever their travels take them. Which will, no doubt, continue to include much searching for their naughty spaniels in brush and briar."