SORRY about the deafening silence you received to your request for information on the Salt Ayre saga. Truth to tell, I am reminded, I can tell you nothing due to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, which prohibits me from telling you, or any one of the people who elected me to be their representative, and therefore their eyes and ears, on the council, what is going on.

Seems somewhat perverse to me, but there we are - that's the system.

The same system that saw us to the farcical finale of the Crinkley Bottom affair, and will no doubt see us through the Mr Christley affair. Huddled meetings, professional advice and side letters.

By the way, should you find out, why a former town clerk received six months paid leave and an extremely large pay out, to leave the authority, I would be delighted to hear from you (subject of course to Part 1 of Schedule 12A Local Government Act)!

Must close now Smithy, just heard a loud knocking at the door, see you in Lancaster Castle.

Cllr Paul Woodruff

Lancaster City Council

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