A “FRUSTRATED” councillor has decided to step away from politics.

Venetia Rowland, who represented the ward of Bramley and Sherfield, has decided to step down from her role as a member of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Mrs Rowland, who was elected in 2016, said that she has grown frustrated with certain elements of the role of being a councillor in representing her residents.

When first running for her seat as a Conservative candidate, one of the key issues that Mrs Rowland had was surrounding the proposed Gladman Developments LTD development of 95 homes in Sherfield-on-Loddon.

However, with the plans being rejected by the borough council the developer has appealed the decision and former councillor said it is something that “just won’t seem to go away.”

She told the Gazette: “After the Gladman’s appeal I felt a bit dejected and frustrated with how things were progressing.

“This was then amplified after a motion that I raised at full council around the spending of section 106 money. I asked the question about all these funds that we had but weren’t being allocated.

“I found it very frustrating because it was moving at a snail’s pace.”

Mrs Rowland said that part of the decision came as she is leaving the area, add: “I have done my bit, I have tired to make things better for the people of Bramley and Sherfield-on-Loddon and can be proud of that.”

When asked if the decision to step away from politics had anything to do with the current political climate Mrs Rowland said: “I think nationally things are a bit of a shambles.

“However, locally Ken [Cllr Rhatigan] has breathed new life into the council and I am sure he will do great things for this borough.”

Due to Mrs Rowland vacating her seat a notice of vacation has been made by the borough council, with a by-election likely to be called for the ward.