I RAISED concerns about the so-called independent Hyndburn councillor Adrian Shurmer, and his connection with certain individuals (Letters, October 28).

Now it is revealed he was associated with a self-styled legal consultant, Mr Anthony Burton, who just happens to be on the run from the police, who would like him to answer some serious allegations (LET, December 3).

Not surprisingly, the police have taken an interest in Councillor Shurmer's connection with this man. This raises some serious questions of public interest which Coun Shurmer should answer.

1. Since being interviewed by the police, Coun Shurmer claimed he hardly knew Mr Burton. However, this seems at odds with the statement to the press earlier this year that he had helped Burton with a number of legal claims. Will Coun Shurmer tell us when he first made contact with Burton so we can see how long he has known this man?

2. If Coun Shurmer knew as little about Burton as he claimed, why was he hell-bent on persuading Peter Britcliffe, the council leader, that he should appoint Burton as an independent consultant to advise them on the transport policy review and suggest he was well qualified to do the job?

3. Coun Shurmer claims he cannot remember who arranged the secret meeting between Burton, himself and Coun Britcliffe. But in his statement, he says that he agreed to Burton's request to meet with the council leader in a telephone conversation a few days earlier. Can he explain this contradiction? 4. It would appear from Coun Britcliffe's account of events, and from Coun Shurmer's actions in recommending Burton as some sort of independent traffic expert, that this may have been a blatant attempt to influence the council into giving a job to someone he knew (in this case, a professional conman).

Instead of proclaiming his innocence Coun Shurmer should now tell us exactly what went on at the secret meeting and why he appears to have used his position of power to promote this man to work at public expense.

Right now, Coun Shurmer's reputation and credibility are in tatters. In the seven months since he duped the public of Great Harwood, he has accused the whole world of corruption and wrongdoing and has cost the council taxpayers about £20,000 so far for investigations, none of which, so far, has found anything wrong.

He has created an atmosphere of sleaze around the new Tory council, which is unprecedented in the politics of the local council.

I am still waiting for his answers to my last set of questions and I won't go away until he answers them - or does the world a favour and resigns.

C REID, Lomax Street, Great Harwood.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.