A COUNCILLOR who “wanted to change the world” will be standing down at the next election.

After serving as a councillor for around 16 years, St Francis and Stratford councillor Mary Douglas confirmed the news to Salisbury residents by letter yesterday.

During her time within the authority, Cllr Douglas has regularly been in the news for her views surrounding the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) community.

As previously reported, she was removed from the portfolio for social mobility and skills in November, after she publicly claimed the LGBTQ+ community was “misguided by a powerful ideology”.

In the letter Cllr Douglas said: “On my election, I entered a whole new world of complaints about potholes and double yellow lines, of committee meetings, and lengthy papers to read.

“I have met some fascinating people and been involved in making decisions which affect the lives of many people.

“Like many, I became a councillor because I wanted to change the world.

“However, I am no longer sure that this is the most effective way to do so.

“I still think that relationships within the family are really important and need to be championed and supported. But I’ve become increasingly aware that even more fundamental is a relationship with our Creator, who invites us to call Him Father. I want to focus on helping others to discover that relationship.”

The letter added: “It has been a privilege to serve you and I hope that I have made things better for at least some of you.

"I am delighted that the new Conservative candidate for this division is Dr Mark McClelland, currently a Salisbury City Councillor, and I wish him all the very best."