A NEWLY independent city councillor has accused his former Labour colleague of ‘gatecrashing’ a community surgery and being asked to leave by security.

David Henwood, who cut ties with the local party group last month, was attending the event at Templars Square last Saturday when John Sanders, who represents Cowley as a county councillor, also arrived to use the table.

Mr Henwood said: “Councillor Sanders initially refused to move from my table, and tried to take control for himself and further refused to cooperate with security guards.”

He added: “I had asked John Sanders two weeks before to contact the Templars Square office to confirm the pitch was in my name, and invited him to take the opportunity to create his own, should he want one. It’s something I worked hard to develop over the last three years and people know I will be there.”

Mr Henwood said Sian Taylor, who is the Oxford City Council Labour group chief whip, also arrived during the dispute and spoke with security staff before he left to go to his second surgery at Florence Park community centre. Mr Sanders described the incident as ‘silly’, adding: “I got David’s email but it has always been a councillor table, not Labour, so I didn’t see why I should move.

“In then end I left not to cause a fuss and will in the future have a separate table, which David is welcome at.”

Owen Acland, centre manager at Templars Square, said: “Each month Templars Square provides a space for councillors representing the local area to come into the centre.

“In the interest of the local community we welcome councillors from all parties to come and use the space and hope that this is something we can continue to do.”

Mr Henwood resigned the Labour whip and switched to independent in November after claiming his complaints of bullying had not been acted upon.

He alleged he was bullied on three separate occasions in the past two years, by other Labour councillors, but said no action has been taken despite reporting the incidents.

This was disputed by council leader Susan Brown, and the party said that there had been allegations of bullying against Mr Henwood himself.

He retains his Labour membership, but no longer represents the party.