Watford councillor Alan Burtenshaw to stand down

1:10pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Ben Endley, Senior reporter

Councillor Alan Burtenshaw and his wife Ellie Councillor Alan Burtenshaw and his wife Ellie

A senior Watford politician and former chairman is standing down after almost 20 years on the council.

Councillor Alan Burtenshaw, who was first elected in 1994, is stepping down from his Woodside seat with immediate effect.

The Liberal Democrat councillor and vice chairman of the audit committee is understood to be permanently relocating to the New Forest.

Watford Mayor Dorothy Thornhill paid tribute to him, saying: "Alan has been a councillor for a long time and he is entitled to choose his time to go.

"He has been a stalwart who was never afraid to speak his mind, particularly on the issue of phone masts and, true to his word, has never owned a mobile phone."

Councillor Burtenshaw’s departure will trigger a by-election timed to coincide with the Hertfordshire County Council elections on May 2.

Comments(17)

Mohandas says...
2:30pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Let's hope the parties don't put out paper candidates such as 'the great and good' or those who seek some position of status during these tough economic times when we need people who are committed to ensuring we deliver what's best for the town.

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dontknowynot says...
2:51pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Obviously the Cllr has decided to relocate on a whim, or for urgent personal reasons not apparent last year which is his right, no one can reproach him in anyway for this, how on earth could he have known last year that he would be relocating this year?

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overhere says...
2:57pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Just as well, I spoke to him a couple of years ago for help with a local issue, he seemed keen at first but lost interest when I pressed him on the matter after a month or so.

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LSC says...
3:01pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Perhaps Dominos Pizza offered him a better position...

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HertsPeter says...
3:17pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Aren't they a bit overdressed for indoors? Can't they pay the heating bills?

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Harry Caine says...
8:46pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Fib Dem Trolls out in force again I see, defending the indefensible, yet another resignation, yet another bye election, yet another expensive election we could all do without

What hubris

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Razor Sharp says...
9:11pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Another Lib Dem soldier / mercenary bites the dust. Goodbye never sounded so sweet.

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LSC says...
10:55pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Harry Caine wrote:
Fib Dem Trolls out in force again I see, defending the indefensible, yet another resignation, yet another bye election, yet another expensive election we could all do without

What hubris
Yes, this dictatorship is awful isn't it? Why can't we have a Council elected by democratic process?

Oh.

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Veritas says...
1:32am Wed 13 Mar 13

never owned a mobile? hope he was not claiming that as an expense on his phone bills!! let that one slip eh!

20 years too long!! Dont foget his mrs was claiming expenses as well, lot of money from the tax payers in his household!!

there should be a time limit.

Lets hope he spills the beans on some Fib Dem deceit!!

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dontknowynot says...
7:45am Wed 13 Mar 13

There is a time limit:-as long as people keep not voting for someone else.
However this does smack of manipulation in that an established Cllr appears to have been put up for re election when maybe a new one would have been less likely to win. That coupled with him leaving at a time that the Libdem would hope to get their vote out for the county elections makes me think this is the Libdem local machine doing its utmost to keep in power.
Nothing wrong with that unless people decide so and do something about it

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pc49plod says...
8:25am Wed 13 Mar 13

Morning All,
Just got into the station and the Sarge has said there's a lot of hot air being wafted around on this story most of it nasty and malicious. Obviously some cynical and sad postees. A pity that these faceless and nameless people have nothing better to do. Get a life !!

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Razor Sharp says...
10:39am Wed 13 Mar 13

pc49plod wrote:
Morning All,
Just got into the station and the Sarge has said there's a lot of hot air being wafted around on this story most of it nasty and malicious. Obviously some cynical and sad postees. A pity that these faceless and nameless people have nothing better to do. Get a life !!
Obviously you're irony impaired.

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Veritas says...
11:03am Wed 13 Mar 13

More Fib dem activists or should we say, on "Clr" expenses? Plod, more like plonker! ha ha


Wonder when he actually moved away? IS he still claiming expenses?

Take the money and run should be the Fibs new motto

We are still waiting for Smillie to pay back her ill gotton gains??

Unfortunately many good people are taken in by the Fib Dem spin machine,

They have alot of money in the coffers to spend on publicity.

Green flag here, purple flag there!!

Glossy magazines through the door?

Good thing people are now seeing them for the the mess
they have created in Watford.

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pc49plod says...
3:31pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Afternoon all,
The boys here at the station tell me that Mr Veritas has always had it in for Mr B and his colleagues and that he has a screw loose. The truth always hurts those who don't want to see it and Mr V is no different. The local constabulary tell me that Mr B is still at his same address, perhaps Mr V would like to check it out and speak to Mr B on a face to face basis but I doubt he has the cojones for that.

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Veritas says...
2:48am Thu 14 Mar 13

cojones big word for PC plonker.

Screw loose you mean Sharpe, don't you!!

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pc49plod says...
5:05pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Evening all,
Mr V, a man of few words, mostly rambling. Who is Sharpe? Obviously not Mr V !!

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Veritas says...
1:25am Mon 18 Mar 13

ah pC Plonker your contacts seem to be straight out of the Fibs address book?

20 years and all Bertie could be remembered for is"phone masts" by her dictatorship?

PC plonker should make sure that Bertie has not left long ago and still claimed expenses like some other dodgy ex fibs

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