FIVE Liberal Democrat councillors absent for a crunch vote over a new supermarket for Kendal have been giving their reasons for missing the meeting.

The Westmorland Gazette has approached the five elected members after the Sainsbury's plan for the Kendal Rugby Union FC ground was passed by seven votes to five. 

The five have cited illness, family commitments, work and a prior personal commitment for missing last Thursday's meeting of South Lakeland District Council's planning committee.

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Usually, the Lib Dems hold the majority on the committee - having 10 councillors represented.

But the no-show meant the six opposition Conservatives teamed up with the only Labour councillor to take majority control of the committee and agree the controversial superstore plan.

The five who did not attend were councillors Sheila Eccles, David Fletcher, Gill Gardner, Heidi Halliday and David Ryder.

The five Lib Dem councillors who did attend and voted against the plan - which had been recommended for approval by SLDC planning officers - were Joss Curwen, Philip Dixon, Sylvia Emmott, Brenda Gray, Phil Walker.

Chairwoman of the committee is Lib Dem councillor Mary Wilson but she can only make a casting vote in the event of the chamber being tied.

Explaining their reasons for not attending, Coun Heidi Halliday said she was suffering from cold and flu symptoms and apologised for letting anyone down.

Coun Halliday, who opposed the recent Sainsbury's store in Ambleside, indicated she would have voted against.

She said: "I did not think the figures stacked up given that Ambleside's retail impact assessment also gave figures for the loss of trade to Kendal supermarkets.

"I am incredibly furious with myself and realise I should have just dragged myself along, especially after discovering four others were missing.

"I feel as though I have let myself and others down. I try my hardest to do what is right."

Coun Gill Gardner said: "I sent my apologies because I was unable to attend due to not being in South Lakeland and having a prior personal commitment."

Coun David Fletcher apologised and pointed out he gave up a lot of his time for the communities he represents.

Coun Fletcher said: "Sadly during the summer months from May 1 to October 31 I’m not always available for planning meetings because of the family business.

"Usually two weekends per month over the summer period we attend out-of-county shows promoting the business.

"I have asked not to be considered for planning, but have remained on because of the lack of volunteers coming forward to go on the planning committee.

He added: "Councillors do not get any more money for this commitment and most councillors volunteer because they are interested in planning procedure, planning control and like a lively debate."

Coun Sheila Eccles explained she is currently caring for a poorly husband and said it meant she needed to balance that commitment with her council role.

Said Coun Eccles: "I was chair of planning when the last planning application came in for Sainsbury's so I do know how important attendance is.

"This application was recommended for approval by the planning officers in our paperwork, and I expected it to be approved this time around anyway, as most of the obstacles had been ironed out, in my opinion."

Coun David Ryder explained work commitments meant he had to be 'unavoidably' present at work in Stockport after a senior manager in his company left suddenly in August - requiring him to be there.

Coun Ryder explained: "As a result, I have had to return to work full time. This meant that I had to cut back drastically on my commitments at SLDC.

"Because I have to spend a lot of time in Stockport, or with customers or suppliers, I am rarely available for day-time meetings.

"Since I am no longer by any means a young man, I have to avoid excessive overwork and my business has been more than full time in the past weeks.

"I am chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny committee and decided that I would concentrate my available time on that – hence I chaired an O&S group on Wednesday afternoon - the only afternoon this week I had free.

"Until a replacement is found on Planning, I will try to attend but I am likely to be a poor attender. I have informed the planning chair and the council leader of my situation."

A spokesman for Tim Farron's office at The Westmorland and Lonsdale Liberal Democrats said: "What is really important to stress is that it can’t be assumed all these councillors would vote against. 

"It is against the rules to have a party line or whip on these issues."