A councillor who was not selected to stand again despite devoting 23 years to politics says it feels like a “kick in the teeth”.

Robert Calcutt, who represented Potters Bar for the Conservatives on Hertsmere Borough Council, was stunned when he was not picked to run for a seventh term in this year’s elections.

The 68-year-old is a long standing member of Hertsmere’s Conservative Association and at the last elections in 2011 he was elected with 1,092 votes – a strong majority.

Cllr Calcutt said: “I feel a bit hurt. I don’t quite know what’s going on, that after all this time I’ve been put to one side.

“It feels like a kick in the teeth. I’ve not been given a reason for this, I’ve just had two letters saying this is what’s happened.

“It’s really knocked me, it’s so out of the blue. I feel very let down.”

Cllr Calcutt has been volunteering with the Conservative Association in Potters Bar since 1977, running stalls, barbecues and helping with election campaigns.

The Conservative group has also deselected long-standing councillors Sandra Parnell and Clive Butchins for Borehamwood and Leslie Winters for Bushey. 

Aldenham representative Dan Griffin resigned immediately when he discovered he had not been picked again, Shenley representative Rosemary Gilligan announced she would stand as an Independent member.

Cllr Calcutt added: “I’ve done a reasonable job to the best of my ability and have always had a good majority whenever I’ve stood, a lot more than my fellow Conservatives.

“It frustrates me. All my nominations have actually come from Labour voters. I understand that it’s nice to have new faces on the council to keep it fresh, but not at the expense of existing councillors.”

In a statement, John Graham, the chairman of the executive council overseeing the reselection process, said: “In preparing ourselves for the first regular set of all-out elections in Hertsmere, the Hertsmere Conservative Association has been undertaking a process of candidate interviews and selections.

“We have been astounded by the interest and response with nearly 50 eligible candidates vying for the 39 seats available. We have ensured that the selection process is equitable with all candidates subject to the same process and asked the same questions.

“In making their final selection the committee have had some difficult decisions to make and certainly with such competition there will always be disappointed people.

“But we believe we have selected the best people to take the authority forward over the next four years.

“There is no slight intended on any member who has not been reselected and naturally we hope they will all continue to remain involved with the Conservatives in Hertsmere in other ways.”