OUTSPOKEN councillor Adrian Shurmer boycotted a Hyndburn Council planning meeting after claiming the authority's development boss threatened him in a letter.

Coun Shurmer asked for the meeting to be cancelled, saying that because he holds the balance of power on the council the process would be undemocratic if he was not there.

Coun Shurmer complained to the Home Office about the conduct of council officers over the former Safeway development in Great Harwood.

He has called for an inquiry, but council chiefs have denied any wrongdoing.

Development officer Nigel Rix wrote a letter inviting the councillor to meet him to discuss the Safeway deal, which is no longer going ahead.

But Coun Shurmer, who represents Great Harwood, claims he was intimidated by a passage of the letter which appears to ask him to distance himself from Great Harwood resident Philip Congdon, who produced an independent consultants' report about the Safeway discussions.

The letter, which was passed to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph by Coun Shurmer, reads: "Mr Congdon has associated you with his correspondence by copying almost every item to you.

"I would say you had every opportunity to dissociate yourself from his allegations and it would be prudent for you to do so."

Coun Shurmer formally complained to the council and said: "I regard this as a threat. Mr Rix has no right to tell me to dissociate myself from anyone.

"I believe the effect of Mr Rix's letter has been to prejudice my position and prevent me from representing people's views on a number of important matters.

"All decisions made at the meeting should be null and void as they are contrary to the democratic process."

Mr Rix said he was unable to comment and was seeking legal advice.

A council spokesman said Mr Shurmer was entitled to ask a substitute from any party to sit in his place on the committee.

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