I AM sorry that Cllr Hogan has decided to descend into the gutter in his recent letter.

How sad that he feels it enhances political debate to dredge up something that happened to Cllr Preest at a low point in his life. – 'there but for the grace of God go all of us'.

I would also like to correct some factual errors in his letter.

In the press release he quotes, I never claimed to have that voted on the motion on domestic violence. I merely gave my opinion when asked.

Can I also clarify that I left the council chamber at 1pm as I had to go to work?

Cllr Preest and myself are that rare commodity – councillors that actually have to earn a living.

In addition, I had to prepare for a West Dean Parish Council meeting later that day.

As Cllr Hogan is clearly concerned that the public get value from their elected representatives, he may wish to check the record which shows that I arrived for this meeting at 6.45pm and left at 9.45pm.

If he would also like to check the records then he will see that, since my election, I have attended every full council meeting plus every meeting of the three sub committees on which I sit.

I have also attended virtually every parish council meeting of the five parishes within my division.

As regards his insinuation about expenses I can confirm that the only allowances I have ever claimed are for mileage to attend approved meetings.

If Cllr Hogan has any evidence of any financial irregularities on my part then I invite him to bring it to the attention of the monitoring officer for Gloucestershire County Council.

If not, I would expect the courtesy of a public apology for the slur on my integrity.

Can I close by saying that I have worked with and have the greatest of respect for a number of the Forest Labour councillors, including Paul McMahon, Graham Morgan, Bill Evans, Paul Hyett and Tim Gwilliam.

I hope that they will move to distance themselves from these personal attacks. Gentlemen, let us have our political disagreements but let us not descend into the gutter.

– Cllr Richard Leppington (UKIP), Gloucestershire County Council, Blakeney and Bream.