COMPLAINTS against a Nelson councillor accused of being disrespectful to residents who were campaigning against a housing scheme have been thrown out by the Standards Board.

Suzanne Bellhouse, of Pinewood Drive, Nelson, wrote to the local authority watchdog about Southfield councillor Sonia Robinson following her decision to vote through plans for 31 houses at Oakridge Point during September's Nelson Committee meeting.

Coun Robinson had previously told residents she supported their concerns that the original plan for 40 houses was too dense and that Pinewood Drive was too narrow to support the extra number of cars so a second route into the 100-home estate should be found.

Mrs Bellhouse said: "She informed us by email that she planned to ask for a deferral at the area committee meeting to give councillors the chance to go and see the site.

"We decided to do the same thing because it would be better to sing from the same hymn sheet.

"I included Coun Robinson in my email to all the residents so she knew our plan.

"On the night we asked for deferral and Coun Robinson voted for the plans. To say we were gobsmacked is an understatement.

"We thought as a group we hadn't been treated with the respect the Code of Conduct says we should be."

The Code of Conduct, which all councillors have to sign, was introduced by the Standards Board in 2002.

It states members should treat others with respect when representing the authority.

But Coun Robinson claims she proposed the planning application because it was a 'dirty job' she did not want to fall on somebody else's shoulders. The Liberal Democrat said: "I sent an email of my support to the residents but because in the end it looked as though I was voting against them, it made it look like I was telling lies.

"I got the application changed as best I could but we have to comply with what the Government guidelines are.

"I still support their campaign to get the access through but Harron Homes, the developer, won't agree."

A Standards Board spokesman said it was not in the public interest to investigate Coun Robinson.

She said: "We did receive an allegation against a particular member which alleged she was disrespectful.

"The decision was made not to refer it for investigation because it was not of such significance to justify public money being spent on an investigation."