Dumped Derek is back on board

LONG-STANDING Saddleworth councillor Derek Heffernan has been given a second chance to fight in the local elections in May after being reselected as a Lib-Dem candidate.

The disgruntled councillor said he was “very disappointed” after being dumped by the party last October.

However, in a dramatic turnaround, he has been chosen once again to fight the Saddleworth North ward after the resignation of local businessman Simon Fitton, who was due to stand for the party.

Derek said: “I am very pleased.

“It was a difficult period when I was deselected. I was disappointed that it had been taken away from me but not by the electorate who had the right to do that. It’s a big part of my life.

“I’ve had so much cross-party support from people, so I’ve obviously done a decent job over the years.”

This will be the 16th time that Derek has faced the electorate as a borough councillor.

He also plans to stand in this year’s parish elections, having been a member of the Saddleworth Parish Council since 1987. Derek said he had spoken to Mr Fitton and told him about the dedication it takes to be a councillor.

He said: “It is a lot of hours, it takes a lot of time out of your week. Things are changing so much and there is still work to be done, I want to complete it.”

Phil Renold, a current parish councillor and political activist for the Liberal Democrats is due to take over retiring Christine Wheeler and fight the Saddleworth South ward.