RE: COUNCILLOR to serve out term from Ireland (LT, July 9).

Various comments have been made on your website and most disagree with the position Cllr Rishton has been left in.

Ken Moss, our councillor, initially stated: “A by-election with only nine months left until the end of his term makes no sense. It takes two months to run an election campaign for that same person to have to campaign again next year for the seat they have just won.

“It costs a lot of time and money which would be better spent working. It leaves little time for anything else. How is that helping the community?

“Harry has a few loose ends to tie up on projects at Hyndburn Council which we can help him do before a fresh start with someone new next May.”

When pushed further about the viability of a by-election in May 2015, this time his comments read: “Because the closing date for candidates was at the very start of April and the deadline had passed.”

Now coming from someone who signs in on a comments page, in the LT, as Cllr Ken Moss we can assume this is an official statement on behalf of Hyndburn Borough Council and the Labour group.

My thoughts run more along the lines that in April/May 2015 Labour’s prospective candidate had not completed their terms of residency in the borough and therefore, they had no candidate to replace Harry.

To me, that is the most plausible reason for Harry continuing as our local councillor until next April/May.

All will be revealed when the next Labour candidate is unveiled.

Curious Cat (via email)