KICKED out of the local Conservative Party for opting to join the Forest of Dean District Council's Independent group, Coleford councillor Maria Edey says it is unlikely she will stand for office at the next election.

"I joined the council to try and improve the Forest of Dean. It means that I do not want to blindly follow every Conservative policy.

" There are times when I agree with what other councillors say and if I think what is said is in the best interest of the Forest then that is the way I will vote," said Cllr Edey.

She said she remained a Conservative at heart and was disappointed the party had decided to take action against her. In a letter Cllr Edey has been told her decision to join the Independent group made her 'incompatible'.

Cllr Edey said she was saddened at what she saw as a lack of pride in the Forest.

"Councillors do not talk it up as they should. So many of them do not appear to have the best interests of the Forest at heart but to be more interested in party politics.

"I have friends in Cornwall where they really talk up the area and welcome tourists. There is so much more we could achieve here but I'm afraid the Forest is going backwards rather than ahead. I'm very disappointed, enough to think very strongly about not standing at the next election," she said.

Cllr Edey said she understood other former Conservative Party members who had defected to the Independent group had also received letters.