ON the day he left for a new job, Rossendale Council's street light engineer Martin Watson Levack announced he was to stand as an independent candidate at next year's elections to expose "negligence and money wasting".

Mr Watson Levack claims that incompetence has led to the waste of many thousands of pounds of council tax payers' money.

As he said farewell to his council colleagues, he revealed his plans.

He said: "I have taken this stance as I am now a former employee of the council but, more importantly, a local ratepayer. Up until now my position has precluded me from talking to councillors, the Press or any council committee."

Rossendale's chief executive Steven Hartley has denied the claims and queried why Mr Watson Levack had not taken advantage of the whistle-blowing policy operated by the authority.

Mr Watson Levack has started a new job with Rochdale Council.

He said he had been dismayed at the lack of interest shown by various council departments when it came to starting work on time and completing the works to a competent standard.

"I am particularly disgusted at the attitude of indifference when it comes to making good defective work," he added.

He had seen many thousands of pounds of county funding wasted for political reasons.

"This money is for the benefit of Rossendale and to lose any is scandalous," he complained.