A long-serving Three Rivers councillor has resigned from the district council.
Sara Bedford, who first joined the council in 1996, resigned on Thursday (January 30) amid a dispute with the Liberal Democrat administration.
She led Three Rivers District Council between 2016 and 2020, and represented Abbots Langley and Bedmond Ward.
Cllr Bedford sat as a Liberal Democrat until July last year when she became an independent.
She has previously faced accusations of bullying other councillors. But Cllr Bedford said complaints about her are “spurious” and claimed senior Lib Dem councillors had prevented her from speaking at public meetings and told her not to ask questions.
TRDC leader Cllr Giles-Medhurst said the allegations were untrue.
Cllr Bedford said: “I have been subjected to increasing constraints and controls on my work as a councillor.”
She said a “small number” of council officers had “refused access to information or have told me that responding to my emails was not a priority”.
“As a councillor, I have always worked for residents. The council belongs to them and not to any political party or group of councillors.”
In a social media post, Cllr Bedford said she had resigned to protect her mental health.
At November’s meeting, the planning committee considered the Langleybury film hub, which was eventually granted permission at a meeting yesterday (Thursday, 30 January).
Cllr Bedford attempted to speak at the November meeting, though she is not on the committee and the proposed film hub is not in her ward.
She said the issue affected her residents, but was told by the committee chair that she had no right to speak.
Cllr Bedford then said “shame on you” and claimed that “lies” were “being told”.
In May last year, Cllr Bedford was confirmed as lead member for housing and public health, despite the appointment being opposed by the opposition parties.
In July, Cllr Bedford was replaced as lead member and her husband, Matthew Bedford, resigned as a district councillor just two months after being announced as the council’s deputy leader. At the time, Cllr Giles-Medhurst said Mr Bedford’s resignation was for “personal reasons”.
The county council elections are set for May, and it is expected that Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst will move from his current division of Central Watford and Oxhey to contest Cllr Bedford’s Abbots Langley division.
It would free up a spot in Central Watford and Oxhey which is expected to be taken up by Peter Taylor, the elected mayor of Watford.
A by-election to replace Cllr Bedford on Three Rivers District Council will be held, with a date yet to be announced.
Cllr Giles-Medhurst said it would be an “inconvenience” to have to hold the election separately from May’s county council elections and would cost the council around £10,000.
When Cllr Bedford’s husband resigned last July, the Conservatives won the resulting by-election, with Cllr Vicky Edwards joining the council.
Leader of the Conservative opposition at Three Rivers District Council, Cllr Oliver Cooper, said Cllr Bedford’s resignation is “another sign of the toll that Lib Dem infighting has taken”.
He said: “Like other councillors, Sara has had information withheld and she’s been cut out of decisions.
“As well as the toll on councillors, that’s led to the council’s increasing inability to get things done – such as the withdrawal of its plan to protect the green belt last month.
“A few months ago, Cllr Giles-Medhurst told a council meeting he would never speak to Sara – despite her being a county councillor and colleague of 30 years. That was astonishingly unprofessional and spiteful.
“Whatever the truth behind the back and forth of complaints and counter-complaints that have been submitted, Three Rivers deserves better than these petty squabbles.”
Share