Last updated at 19:55, Thursday, 05 July 2012

Two Workington town councillors have been cleared of allegations about bullying and intimidation of a colleague.

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Long serving Labour councillors Peter Bales and Gerald Humes, who is also leader of the town council, were investigated by Allerdale council after complaints from Independent councillor Stephen Stoddart.

Coun Stoddart alleged that at the town’s mayor-making ceremony in May 2011, Coun Bales refused to work with him and said he would ignore him after a disagreement.

He also claimed that Coun Bales refused Coun Stoddart’s daughter entry to a church service to mark the homecoming of the 2nd Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment last October, despite a prior arrangement with the town clerk that she could attend.

Coun Stoddart also alleged that Coun Humes swore at him when he asked about a problem with paving under a new bus shelter in Moorclose.

Allerdale council’s standards committee considered the complaints and found that there was no evidence that either councillor had breached their code of conduct.

Coun Humes said: “If you join politics, you take the rough with the smooth. I always knew that I was innocent.

“I’m pleased with the decision, mostly for my family because they were more worried than I was.”

Coun Bales said: “I am just relieved. It’s a long winded process, but at the end of the day the right decision was made and I’m very happy.”

A complaint by Coun Bales against Coun Stoddart is yet to be heard by the standards committee’s hearing sub committee.

A date has not been set and details of the allegation have not been revealed.

First published at 19:20, Thursday, 05 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk