AN Independent candidate in the upcoming council elections has accused Labour and the Conservatives of dodging the electorate ahead of the town’s only hustings later this week.

Tony Hillier is standing as an Independent candidate in the Covingham and Dorcan ward which is currently represented by three Conservative councillors.

He has organised a hustings event, to be held at Covingham Park Primary School from 7pm on Thursday, but both major parties have declined his invitation.

Tony said: “This has put the cat among the pigeons a bit – it’s unusual to have a local hustings but why not?

“Trust in local politicians is so low and this is why we’re offering people the chance to take a closer look.

“We’ve given out leaflets to a few hundred people so hopefully we should get a good turnout.”

So far the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and UKIP have agreed to send representatives to the event, which was first announced a week ago.

The Liberal Democrat candidate, Margaret Hooper, is unavailable due to illness but chairman of Swindon Liberal Democrats, Alex Hegenbarth, is planning to attend in her place.

Alex said: “It's great that a hustings is being held for Covingham and Dorcan as it lets local residents find out more about Swindon's local parties and on how the Liberal Democrats can make a real and positive difference to the area.

“I'm looking forward to hearing what the other candidates have to say and to showing how the Liberal Democrats are the only party putting Swindon first.”

Labour’s candidate in the ward, Jamal Miah, who works as a chef in an Indian takeaway, told the Adver: “I’m at work on Thursday evening, I work six days a week in the evenings – it’s short notice, I can’t do it.”

He rejected the suggestion that his evening work commitments would make it difficult for him to effectively represent constituents at council events if he was to be elected.

Labour have no plans to send a stand in representative to the event.

A spokesman for the local party said: “We’ve put two leaflets out in Covingham and Dorcan so voters are well aware of our positions on the issues.”

The Conservative candidate in the ward, Barbara Parry, has also declined the invitation to attend the hustings.

She said: “I am more than happy to attend a hustings but the organiser knew I was busy on Thursday evening.

“It’s a real shame because I replied promptly to the invite, and I talk to dozens of local residents every evening by knocking on their door.

“I am the only local candidate who works all year round, not just at election time, and I continue to be the only local candidate running a positive local campaign."

Mrs Parry, whose husband Kevin is already a councillor in the ward, did not elaborate on the nature of her prior commitments.

The Conservatives have not yet confirmed whether they intend to send a representative to the event in her place.