A COUNCILLOR has hit out after being refused permission to use council resources to send a letter to the residents he represents.

Guiseley and Rawdon member Graham Latty said the Conservative office in Leeds Civic Hall was told his letter about the Site Allocation Policy consultation would have to be cut to take out certain passages.

He said he was only allowed to use council resources after a shortened version of the letter had been agreed.

The letter, which was on official Leeds City Council notepaper, warned of the impact of thousands of new homes in Aireborough.

Cllr Latty said: "The letter that was refused permission was truthful, and not in any way political.

"It made the point that to meet the numbers imposed on Aireborough by the council, building would have to be on greenbelt. Further, it told people the Site Allocation Policy made provision for houses but ignored employment, road infrastructure and school provision for the huge increase in population these homes would bring to Aireborough.

"All this in spite of continual efforts during the past three years to get recognition of these potential problems from myself, my colleagues, our MP, the Neighbourhood Forum and numerous letters and e-mails from residents."

He added: "It is the council saying you must not use council resources to say anything that reflects anything but credit on the council? In other words, what they are saying is we are always right."

A Leeds City Council spokesman said: “The original version of the letter contained wording that did not follow the government’s code of recommended practice on local authority publicity, which the council must have regard to when items are being published using council resources.

“This issue has now been resolved and an amended version of the letter has been sent to residents informing them about the site allocations public consultation, which is now underway.”

lWhat do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail richard.parker@nqyne.co.uk or write to the Content Editor, Gazette and Observer, 38 High Street, Skipton BD23 1JU. Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number.