A LEADING opposition figure says Conservative councillors who don't agree with Herefordshire Council's tenant farm sell-off should resign from the party.

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Terry James made the plea during a Cabinet meeting at Hereford Shirehall last Thursday when senior Tories voted in favour of appointing an agent to assist in marketing the county's tenant farms.

The Kington councillor called the controversial sell-off, announced last December, a "very sad day" but said he was getting increasingly annoyed by some members of the ruling Conservative party over their views on the decision.

"I'm afraid I have a bit of anger when I see some Conservative councillors saying they were opposed to this," he said.

"If you did not agree with it you should not be a member of the party. It's shameful."

The Tories also came under attack from It's Our County leader Cllr Anthony Powers who said the council had gone about its decision the wrong way round.

"Tenants were given their notices to quit in January and only now is there movement towards a disposal plan being made," he said.

"I think the notices to quit should be rescinded at this stage.

"This is a matter affecting the future of the county and it should come to full council."

He also produced a letter from the chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association which he said detailed plans by the local government ombudsman to investigate the council over the sell-off plan on the basis of "maladministration leading to injustice".

However, the council said it had no record of such a complaint.

Cabinet member Cllr Philip Price said the matter in front of councillors was merely to approve the idea of appointing an agent to help market and value the council assets. "It's very straightforward," he said.

There are 42 smallholding tenants in total, and of those the 23 tenants with ‘lifetime’ and ‘retirement’ tenancies, will remain in their properties under their current terms.

The decision to sell off the farms has been heavily criticised with more than 2,000 people supporting an online petition asking the council to reconsider its decision.

One tenant farmer also said the support his family has received had been minimal.

"The last time we saw anyone it was when we were delivered our notice to quit," said Ian Salmon, whose family must quit Crossbrook Farm in Moreton Eye by the end of next May.

Mr Salmon said he will probably sell his cows this autumn, and doesn’t plan to remain a farmer.

"I’m not sure we will bother with another farm to be honest,” he added.

"But I’d like to stay in the area. We love it here."