COUNCILLOR Julian Price has hit back at critics who questioned his decision to take up a new job in Scotland, 381 miles away from his ward.

The issue was raised by Tory councillor Dale Heenan, who said: “A resident contacted me last week saying that they had seen on his Facebook page that he has got a new job in Stirling.

“He mentioned in one post he was quite tired by the long commute. It was the first I had heard of the new job, and I was quite surprised.

“It makes life quite hard for a ward councillor to be based in Scotland when his ward is in Swindon.”

But Coun Price (Lab, Covingham and Dorcan), denied any claims the new job, which he took up towards the end of last month, would impact on his work as a councillor.

“I’m delighted to be able to report that I do have a new job, which will enable me to work more from home in Swindon and give me more time to represent my constituents in the Covingham and Dorcan Ward,” he said. “My previous job was based in Oxford.

“This new job does require me to travel distances for work events but that is no different to lots of other local residents in Swindon and indeed there are councillors in Swindon who travel outside of the country due to work commitments. This will be on my register of interests as soon as I am able to put it there. I work from home, but my job involves some travelling and the work is based in Scotland. I will have to go up there once or twice a month. I may have a job, but my office is based in my kitchen.”

He said the bulk of his work around his ward would be done during the evenings and at weekends. “I will spend two or three days a week working from home and two or three days a week on the road.”