A CONSERVATIVE councillor has joined the Liberal Democrats amid a bitter backlash from his former party colleagues.

Cllr Paul Dawkins, who represents Walmer on the district council, resigned from the Tory Party and joined the Liberal Democrats on Monday, claiming “the need to restore the political balance to the council".

The Conservatives claimed his departure was down to his “de-selection for any Conservative candidature for the 2007 council elections".

Cllr Roger Frayne, chairman of the Deal and Dover Conservative Association, claimed Cllr Dawkins had switched parties to promote his own aspirations. He said there should now be a by-election.

In an open letter to Cllr Dawkins, he said: “Resign your seat and let the people of Walmer decide in a by-election if you should be re-elected for a different party."

He added: “It seems too much of a coincidence that his defection follows immediately after his de-selection for any Conservative candidature.

“He had many absences from committee and group meetings, yet he aspired to higher office. He was given many opportunities to promote his community role but failed to grasp them.”

Cllr Dawkins would not comment on Cllr Frayne’s remarks, but said: “I am looking forward to working with the Liberal Democrat councillors to make a real difference to Walmer, and to the Dover district.”

As a district councillor, Cllr Dawkins has played an active role in environmental issues. Among the campaigns he has been involved with are the Deal & Walmer Community Composting Scheme and the Kent Compost Advisers Project.

He said: “Recycling needs far greater attention and a Lib Dem team approach will help. We need to scrutinise the budgets to establish how much finance will be allocated and where the allocation will be spent on recycling.”

Following Cllr Dawkins’ resignation from the Tories, the district council remains hung, with no party having an overall majority.

The Conservatives have 22 councillors, Labour 17 and there are three independents and three Lib Dems.

If none of the political parties has an overall majority, the council is hung, and the leader is usually, but not always, nominated by the party with the largest number of members.

Asked on what political implications this will have on DDC, council leader Paul Watkins said: “We will let the councillors use their common sense.”