COUNCILLOR Waghat's conviction for benefit fraud, whilst servicing as a councillor, has created a fundamental breach of trust and confidence that has brought the council into disrepute.

This is reinforced and compounded by his refusal to resign from the council, and by the support he is receiving from the leader of the council and the members of the ruling coalition.

It does not matter that he did all this before becoming a councillor, that he had financial problems, or that he has paid the money back (the benefits system is not a rainy day fund for those not entitled to claim).

Nor is it sufficient for him to say that he has consulted "literally hundreds" of his constituents, and that they are in favour of him continuing as councillor.

I live in the Shear Brow ward, and neither I, my wife nor anyone else that we know, was consulted. If we had been, the tone of this letter indicates what we would have said.

The only way to make sure would be to resign and seek re-election. The problem with this is that his actions have rendered him unfit to be considered for re-election.

His conviction for committing benefit fraud and refusal to resign as a consequence, especially as he has was an experienced benefits advisor, places his behaviour far below the stanards that the public is entitled to expect from someone who occupies public office.

This should be the sole deciding factor.

He should reconsider his position and resign without any further delay.

BRUCE KITCHIN, Colenso Road, Blackburn.