I AM pleased the District Auditor has at last published his public interest report on the Crinkly Bottom Theme Park project.

The background is that he has been acting in a judicial or quasi-judicial capacity, and will not be responding to questions about his decisions.

It has been well publicised that he describes one decision as 'imprudent', another as 'irrational and unlawful', a third decision as being 'mistaken' and a fourth as being 'unlawful'.

He is critical of both officers and members in respect of their roles in this disastrous, short lived venture which cost local taxpayers more than £2 million.

He has concluded that the conduct of two former officers (the former town clerk and the former city treasurer) involved misconduct but that such misconduct was not wilful.

Now that he has said he is not going to make an application to the court in respect of items of account which appear to him to be 'contrary to law', the threat of surcharge on those named in the report has largely been removed.

The losses to the council from the Crinkly Bottom project are not going to be recovered, but the time has come, with the benefit of hindsight if necessary, for those persons found to have committed misconduct to apologise to the electorate of the district for their contribution to the losses.

I demand that apology on behalf of the local electorate.

Cllr James Airey

Conservative Group leader

Lancaster City Council