5 A TORY councillor is attempting to quash speculation which he believes is threatening to sabotage his re-election to the council.

Astley Bridge councillor Stuart Lever came under fire from a group of constituents for the role he played when the council gave permission to a Muslim group to convert a building in Ramsey Street into a mosque two years ago.

Cllr Lever dismissed as "absurd" claims that he had conspired to help the Madrassa Trust get the go-ahead for the project even though there was a strong community campaign against it.

He said: "I am concerned that some of the misconceptions that are being levelled at me will not only damage my election chances but also bring my integrity into question."

"This case was one of the hardest I have had to deal with because of the depth of feeling on both sides of the argument.

'But I showed no favouritism, I merely worked to represent all my constituents to the best of my ability."

Cllr Lever said he did advise the Mosque's leaders to apply for planning permission but said that he also suggested to opponents of the plan that they put out leaflets to drum up support -- a move which resulted in 60 letters of objection.

"One person even accused me of procuring the building for the group," he said.

"Some people think that as a councillor you are as powerful as the US preside+nt, but it doesn't work like that. There are 26 councillors on the planning committee and it was they who decided that this project should be given the go-ahead.

"In any case, there have been no reported complaints made against the mosque that I am aware of."