AN INDEPENDENT councillor is calling for people to join his crusade to unseat the current council and secure control of the borough.

Kelsey and Eden Park councillor Rod Reed wants to gather a group of 60 people with "vigorous views" about the way Bromley Council is currently run.

Once the group is organised, the aim is for each candidate to stand in one of the council's 60 seats and vie to win those up for grabs in the forthcoming local elections on May 4. Cllr Reed says he has already recruited 30 interested people.

These are made up of former councillors, residents and a "handful" of current Conservative councillors. The former Tory stepped down from the party last March and became an independent, saying his party had failed to back him in his bid to prevent the Beckenham Hospital site being used for a new £23m health centre. He said: "The aim is for every seat in the borough to be contested and, hopefully, won so Bromley is better, fairer and safer in all respects.

"There are already current Tory councillors very interested in joining but we need a few more people to throw their hat into the ring and donate money to help us launch."

The Cambridge-educated councillor says if the group got into power, it could "realistically" save £6m a year by increasing council efficiency.

He would also like to declare Beckenham a "saturation zone", which would mean preventing any more pubs applying for extended opening hours and revoking the licences of trouble pubs.

Education and health are also a top priority for father-of-two Cllr Reed.

He says more provision is needed for special needs education and he will also continue his Hospital Beds For Beckenham campaign.

Tory leader Councillor Stephen Carr said: "I'm always pleased to hear people are entering the democratic process but Rod Reed has never been a team player so I'm concerned for those who may want to join him."

Call Cllr Reed on 0794 932 7651 or 020 8658 3427.