A COUNCILLOR has been accused by a senior official of ‘putting himself at risk’ and delaying roadworks by checking on projects on the West Craven area.

Cllr David Whipp, who is a member of Pendle Council and Lancashire County Council, has made public an email from County Hall’s director of community services, Phil Barrett.

In the email, Mr Barrett is critical of Cllr Whipp’s conduct over recent months, reminds him of health and safety rules and says his chats with on site workers are affecting some projects.

Mr Barrett said: “Safety on our highway sites is paramount and only authorised people should be on our sites.

“I contacted Cllr Whipp to reiterate this, after receiving comments from our contractor.”

Cllr Whipp refuted the claims and said he had never entered a site without an official escort.

In the e-mail to Cllr Whipp, Mr Barrett said: “I am writing to you in relation to some recent incidences of you going to county council construction sites and entering the working areas.

“This is putting yourself at risk as well as county council employees and contractors working on such sites and the prolonged conversations that you are having with our workforce within the working areas is also having an impact on the progress of works.

“I would therefore ask you to remain outside working areas at all times.”

Cllr Whipp, a Liberal Democrat, has a reputation for a ‘hands on’ approach and has involved himself in many issues of road and infrastructure improvements.

He said: “I haven’t been within any working areas of any county council construction sites, apart from Junction 13 of the M65 works when I was with county council staff.

“In terms of chatting with any contractors, I can assure you that this does not interfere with their work.

“It is important to keep constituents and the wider travelling public informed about these projects.

“I believe this information helps people plan their journeys.”