Frinton and Walton’s mayor has hit out at rival Conservatives over the potential £10,000 cost of running two council by-elections.

Jack Robertson made the attack as Frinton also looks set to stage a by-election in the coming weeks.

The requests for the election to be held for that second vacancy needs to be received on or before November 4.

Walton already goes to the polls next Thursday following the resignation of Conservative Dave Fitz-Hardy.

Earlier this month, fellow Conservative Mark Brown was “sacked” from the town council, for not attending meetings for six months, while he recovered from cancer treatment.

Though at this month’s meeting Mayor Robertson said he was giving Mr Brown his “cards,” dismissing a councillor was not his personal job, but down to council standing orders.

“The councillor concerned had not given reasons or apologies for any lack of attendance in the last six months and our rules clearly state that after such time the councillor is relieved of his duties,” he said.

Mr Robertson, who represents Tendring First, said the Conservatives have ‘called’ the first by-election, which would cost the town council about £5,000 to hold.

Tendring Council actually runs them, but then charges the town council their costs, such as opening polling stations, paying for staff, etc.

“We said we could do it by selection or co-option like in Harwich and elsewhere. It’s all in the past but it has cost this amount of money,” he said.

With a second by-election also likely, this means Frinton and Walton Town Council may now have to pay £10,000 for the two by-elections.

“It’s a lot of money. It’s not our money, it’s the residents’ money. It has to be well-managed. The Conservatives saved £1,000 by agreeing we won’t issue polling cards but they wasted £5,000 in calling the by-election,” he said.

Opposition Conservatives see the price as “the cost of democracy.”

Town and district councillor Delyth Miles said: “The only way of ensuring democracy and the views and choices of our residents in Frinton and Walton is to hold a by-election.”

Mrs Myles, a former chairwoman of Clacton Constituency Conservatives, said in every year of her six or so years on the town council she has tried to get on the police and crime committee but the ruling Tendring First group have blocked her.

“Therefore, I there is absolutely no way I have confidence in the democratic selection without putting it into the hands of the residents,” she added.

The two candidates for the November 3 Walton poll are Mark Cossens for the Conservative Party and Anne Oxley for Tendring First.

The two polling stations are Emmanuel Church in New Pier Street and St George’s Community Centre in Hall Lane. Both will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday November 3.