A FOREST county councillor claims thousands of people have been effectively disenfranchised by him being 'stripped of powers' for the duration of the Minerals Local Plan Inquiry.

However the Assistant County Solicitor says the claim has arisen out of a misunderstanding and neither County Councillor Andrew Gardiner or the people he represents have been disadvantaged.

Cllr Gardiner, who represents the Brooksdean Ward which includes Ruardean and Drybrook, is challenging county council behaviour which he thinks is unprecedented in local government.

"They are acting illegally," he said, adding he had sent protests to the County Solicitor Ian Wotherspoon and and the county's head of secretariat, Chris Clouting.

Cllr Gardiner, who is also representing Ruardean Parish Council and Ruardean and Drybrook Residents' Association on the Drybrook Quarry extension being considered by the minerals inquiry, said the move was "almost monstrous in a way".

"I am very much an individual regarding the Minerals Local Plan," he told the Review, adding that representing local views on the outcome of the inquiry came first for him.

He says he has to attend the inquiry as an individual which means county council records, files and facilities are closed to him and he has to obtain thousands of documents at his own expense.

"I asked for reasons and none have been forthcoming," he said. "I know of no rules or regulations or protocol which allows them to do this. I have been elected and they have prevented me from representing my electorate.

"It is discrimination of the worst kind."

But Assistant County Solicitor Graham Limbrick said: "The situation has arisen out of a misunderstanding which has got out of proportion.

"Initially there was uncertainty over whether Cllr Gardiner was acting the parish or the residents or the District Council, which he also represents. If he was not acting purely as a county councillor, then material would be available as it is to all members of the public and copying charges would apply.

"However we now accept he represents the residents' association for the county, and I can assure him of this fact. I will be putting this in writing to him.

"Nobody has been disenfranchised or disadvantaged in any way and I wish I could make Mr Gardiner understand this.

"However at the end of the day he is opposing a matter which the council is recommending and council departments are preparing their own case for the inquiry – there is therefore a limit to how much they are able to help Mr Gardiner."

The inquiry, being heard by a government inspector, is likely to last for some weeks yet. Several controversial quarrying issues are expected to arise during its course.