CLAIMS the head of Cirencester Town Council’s planning committee has resigned from the Conservative party in protest over the Chesterton development are overblown, the Standard can reveal.

Rumours of a walk-out were dismissed by Cllr Stuart Tarr today after suggestions he had fallen out with his party over the mammoth 2,350-home development proposed for the edge of Cirencester.

In fact, he remains a paying party member but has temporarily stepped down from the local branch in case there is any accusation of a conflict of interest.

The contentious application was submitted to Cotswold District Council in January and a decision is likely to be made within the next eight months.

Cllr Tarr has now put the record straight, explaining that he stepped down from the Cirencester Thames Branch – created by the merger of the Thames Head and Cirencester branches - because he wanted to avoid any accusations of cronyism.

He said: “Because I am also the chair of the planning committee, and as the Chesterton application is under review, I thought it would be wise to step down for now so voters know there’s no suggestion party politics is a factor or that there’s a conflict of interest.”