A WAR of words was about to explode today after a councillor expressed his anger that a visit to Burnley by the Queen's Lancashire Regiment should be "at minimal cost."

Independent Councillor Harry Brooks has launched a four-prong attack by putting a formal notice of motion to tomorrow's meeting of Burnley Council.

He acknowledges with pride the recent distinguished service of the regiment in Bosnia:

welcomes the intention of the Regiment to exercise the Freedom of the Borough by marching through the town with bayonets fixed and colours flying;

notes the view of Coun Kath Reade, leader of the Labour Group, that the visit of the Regiment should be at minimal cost to the Council;

resolves that the hospitality to be given to the Regiment shall be not less than that extended freely and substantially to councillors and their spouses, including Coun Reade and her husband, at the party given at the council's expense in Towneley Hall by the outgoing mayor, Coun Arthur Park.

Coun Brooks said his reasons for tabling the official notice of motion was his anger at Coun Reade's assertion at the policy and resources committee that the visit of the regiment should be at minimal cost to the council.

The implication, he claimed, was that the troops should not be received with the generous hospitality that was their due.

He said he was the last person to want to waste council money but pointed out that only a few months ago the outgoing mayor had invited all councillors and their spouses to a "free beano'' at the council's expense at Towneley Hall.

Coun Brooks, a former member of the ruling Labour group, said it was typical that they should now be trying to cheesepare on hospitality for people who really deserved the public's gratitude.

His comments are bound to cause a storm of protest and counter attacks at the full meeting in the council chamber.

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