A British National Party member elected to Heanor Town Council has resigned from his post and launched a stinging attack on local politics.
Cllr Alan Warner handed his letter into the council last week, and has also stepped down from Denby Parish Council, saying that both roles were a waste of his time.
Cllr Warner said: "I wasn't getting any cooperation from the councillors in Heano
r and nobody spoke to me at the meetings. I just started to think 'I'm wasting my time here.'
"The parish and town councils have no power what so ever. The borough council takes no notice of their comments I can assure you of that. I think they represent the council's officers rather than the people that elected them.
"I've got a daughter to look after and a small holding with animals that take up a lot of my time. I can't be out until 10pm at night not getting anywhere."
Cllr Warner courted controversy last summer when his land in Denby was used to host the annual Red White and Blue festival for the British National Party.
He denied that the decision to step away was related to a recent national split in the party caused by the expulsion of prominent members including Sadie Graham and promised to return the festival to the area in 2008.
Cllr Warner said: "It's nothing to do with the split. I don't know if Sadie Graham will get anywhere. You don't always agree with everything that's going off but you always back the party. I support the BNP party. The Red White and Blue festival will be back on this land again later this year.
"Someone else from the party will stand in my place straight away. I'm assuming the party will put someone forward for the position."
A spokesman for Heanor and Loscoe Town Council confirmed that the seat would be advertised and a by-election held if ten or more candidates came forward. If there isn't sufficient interest shown then the existing councillors can co-opt somebody onto the council themselves.
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