PLANNING boss Clr Gary Cross has officially resigned from the Labour party, but the Westbrook councillor has vowed to win his seat back in June's elections

Clr Cross, who is chairman of the borough council's development control committee, said he made the decision to stand as an independent candidate following claims of 'unfair and unjustified' treatment from regional Labour bosses when he was controversially deselected from standing for Labour last year.

Now he has announced that he hopes to continue to represent the people of Westbrook as an independent candidate.

He said: "Given the continued support by the residents of Westbrook, which I have enjoyed for the past seven years as a member of Warrington Borough Council and for many more as a parish councillor, I look forward to the challenges of the future and serving their needs.

"I would also like to stress this action is based on my strong commitment to represent the area in which I live and its people.

"My decision has been prompted by the actions of Labour regional office in deselecting me in a manner which I consider to be both unfair and unjustified.

"However, I look forward to representing Westbrook and serving both the ward and Warrington as a borough councillor in the future."

Clr Cross, who has acted as planning boss for the past two years, joins former council leader Mike Hughes as axed Labour councillors who have resigned from the Labour party.

He said support from people in Westbrook had helped him decide to seek re-election as an independent.

He will carry on his duties as planning chairman until the election date in June.