A retiring Kenilworth Conservative county councillor has said he feels 'destroyed' having not been given the opportunity to rerun for his seat at the May 2021 elections.

Cllr Dave Shilton (Cons, Kenilworth Park Hill) told the Warwickshire County Council Full Council meeting today (March 16) that he was not even offered an interview for the possibility of running for the Park Hill ward again.

Cllr Shilton has been a town and district councillor for 24 years, and a county councillor for two decades, having first been elected to WCC in June 2001 - he is a former Chair of Warwickshire County Council.

Speaking today however he said that: "This is not what I wanted, it is what the group of people who didn't give me an interview to stand up for myself to try and get elected wanted, so it is has been forced on me, and it was a position I didn't want to be in.

"I have done my best, my best for Kenilworth and for Park Hill Ward."

After thanking various other councillors and council officers Cllr Shilton added: "I would have liked to have continued, but it has not been possible because of the powers at be, in particular the Leamington people that were on the panel apparently.

"It was a shame that I didn't get an interview, I felt that read very wrong, was very hurtful, I have been hurt terribly by it.

"It has really destroyed me."

Other councillors in the virtual meeting on Zoom could be seen clearly nodding in agreement at Cllr Shilton's words.

Instead, Andy Metcalf will be the Conservative candidate for Kenilworth Park Hill this May.