WEST Norfolk councillor David Markinson, who swept to power on an anti wind turbine protest vote in Marshland St James, has moved from the area temporarily to live with relatives in Spain. His �500,000 home, Alder Lodge, has been sold but Cllr Markinson

WEST Norfolk councillor David Markinson, who swept to power on an anti wind turbine protest vote in Marshland St James, has moved from the area temporarily to live with relatives in Spain.

His �500,000 home, Alder Lodge, has been sold but Cllr Markinson has advised officials at West Norfolk Council he plans to return to this country later this month.

A council spokesman said today: "I have spoken with our Democratic Services Team and they advised me that Cllr Markinson attended the development control board meeting as normal last month.

"He later advised that he would be moving out of his house and asked for his council IT equipment to be removed and stored.

"He informed our Democratic Services team that he was going to stop with relatives in Spain for a few weeks and on his return later this month would advise of updated contact details."

Cllr Markinson won the Marshland seat on West Norfolk in 2007 as an independent after being firmly identified with the anti wind turbine group, FLAT. He unseated Labour's Jack Bantoft who had held the seat for nearly two decades.

Cllr Markinson was also a member of Marshland St James Parish Council, having won the seat in a by election in February when he pipped three candidates and was elected with 97 votes.

Cllr Markinson's four bedroom house, completed with orchards and an equestrian centre, has been for sale for some time. Cllr Markinson is thought to have bought the house in 2001 for �250,000.

When Cllr Markinson first marketed the property it had an agricultural usage restriction which he finally succeeded in removing in October 2007 following a successful application to West Norfolk Council.