LEIGH councillor Terry Harper is quitting the council.

While Labour colleagues were celebrating their wipeout of Conservative opposition on Wigan Council, Terry was telling The Journal: "I've become disillusioned with local politics!"

The one-time Social Services Committee chief, ousted by Tyldesley East member Alan Stephenson, still has two years of his term to go.

But, says Cllr. Harper, after 15 years as a councillor representing Leigh East, he has had enough. Losing the Social Services chairmanship has been a contributing factor in making his decision.

The former security officer, who has been unemployed for some time, said he will now devote more time to family matters, in particular with his grand-children.

Cllr Harper said: "I had always intended to finish on the council when I was 60, but I have gone from as many as five meetings a day, sometimes, to as little as one or even none a week now. I don't think I can serve my constituents properly any more with that sort of commitment.

"I am now 55 years-old and have decided to call it a day on the council. I have become disillusioned with the way local politics has moved over the last couple of years. Losing the chairmanship of Social Services hasn't helped.

"I have a wife, Joan, and I will be spending more time with her and with our grand-children. I didn't at first, but I realise that I now appreciate having more time on my hands."

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