IN a recent letter Mr T T Riley asked the following: "Cllr David Wilkinson installed as spokesman for the Greater Manchester Transport Authority, which has an allowance £6,000 a year . . . for what?"

That is not for me to say, but as Cllr Wilkinson was recently called before the Local Government Standards Board to answer charges of: 1. Failing to declare a personal interest in a matter before Council, 2. Treating the Council clerk with disrespect and 3. Lying to the Council.

and as Cllr Wilkinson was found guilty on all three counts, I sincerely hope that the decision to appoint him to the above position was made before the result of this hearing was known and that, in light of this, his nomination be now withdrawn, preferably by Cllr Wilkinson himself, if he wishes to maintain even a shred of dignity and integrity.

Mike Francis, Stanley Close, Westhoughton