A Salisbury city council candidate has said he was "horrified" after reading Labour's local election leaflets, and that he wants to "set the record straight". 

Frogg Moody, who was previously a Tory councillor but is now standing an an Independent, was out canvassing for the upcoming elections with his wife last Wednesday, when they bumped into Mayor John Walsh - a Labour councillor.

Cllr Walsh handed Cllr Moody a leaflet which contains statements regarding the plight of the Tourist Information Office, Salisbury Library and the City Hall – all establishments Cllr Moody says are "close to his heart".

It was announced in June 2018 that the Information Centre was to move to the Maltings car park, before that decision was reversed after more than 6,000 people signed a petition against it.

'Shame on them'

Salisbury Tourist Information. DC8713P6 Picture by Tom Gregory.

Salisbury Tourist Information. DC8713P6 Picture by Tom Gregory.

The Labour leaflet handed to Cllr Moody read: “Your two existing Tory City Councillors were part of this incompetence and in-fighting: Shame on them.”

He says, as as one of these councillors for Fisherton and Bemerton Village, he would like to "put the record straight".

Cllr Moody says that it was as a direct result of the issue surrounding the office that he decided to stand as an Independent councillor, and not a Conservative.

He said he "voted with his conscience regarding the Tourist Information Office", and that he highlighted the fact that it should remain in its current position.

Frogg Moody. Picture by Spencer Mulholland

Frogg Moody. Picture by Spencer Mulholland

He added: "This was at a full council meeting where it was recorded in the minutes.

"It was also acknowledged at the time by certain members of the Labour Party who thanked me.

"I have continued to support the Library writing to Wiltshire Council with my concerns and this was again the case with the City Hall where I wrote to Wiltshire Council and the former City Hall manager. I have copies of all messages sent.

"Perhaps in the future, a ‘Code of Conduct’ should be agreed upon regarding the information printed in political leaflets."

'Discord and disagreement among Tory councillors'

Labour say the leaflet "passed no comment" on how anyone voted specifically. 

Candidates Ricky Rogers, Anita Goddard and Jenny Bolwell said: “Our Fisherton and Bemerton City Council Election Viewpoint highlights the incompetence and in-fighting of the Tory City Council administration that took office four years ago.

"It is now even clearer that there was discord and disagreement among Tory Councillors at an early stage.  Three Leaders in four years, one thrown out of the Tory Party enforces the point.

"Yet the two Tory City Councillors for Fisherton & Bemerton remained, and are still part of, the City Council Tory Group."

The group added that its viewpoint was "purely stating that the two councillors were part of that failed and divided administration".

They added: "We don’t remember any Tory City Councillors joining Labour’s “Save Our Library Campaign”.

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