A COUNCILLOR leading the Leigh fire pump fight has been accused of abusing town hall telephone facilities.

But Community Action Cllr Peter Franzen claims the row is aimed at diverting attention from the council's "betrayal of Leigh people" over the campaign.

He faces claims that he mis-used a council business phone number for electioneering.

Council Leader Lord Peter Smith has reported him to the Metro's internal standards committee.

At a meeting of Wigan Council Lord Smith produced a Community Action poster which he alleged was used in the recent Leigh Central by-election and included a town hall line number, which he claimed was a breach of the standards of behaviour code.

But Cllr Franzen dismissed the allegation and claimed using his council number on posters supporting the Save the Fire Pump Campaign was entirely legitimate.

Lord Smith said: "The council provide telephone lines for councillors to communicate with constituents and council officers -- not for political campaigning.

"I have referred the matter to the council's monitoring officer who will adjudicate."

Cllr Franzen said his support for the fire engine campaign started before the announcement of the by-election.

He said: "I am satisfied that I have taken all reasonable precautions to comply with election rules and procedures and deny and refute the allegation by Lord Smith.

"If he believes his allegation to be justified he should make it through the proper channels and report me to the Standards Board of England.

"This is simply a case of a New Labour attack on the Community Party to divert attention away from the Wigan Council vote in which Lord Smith and 59 of his councillors betrayed the people of Leigh. They were flushed out and exposed for voting against a Community Action Party proposal that supported new fire stations in Standish and Ashton and opposed the slashing of Leigh's fire cover by 50 per cent leaving only one fire engine at the Leigh station.

"Finally Lord Smith should explain why he considers it is acceptable for himself and some of his councillors to publish their council phone numbers on Labour election leaflets promoting their candidates."