IN your last edition (July 21) in a letter with a heading Blatant Charade, Cllr Andrew Gardiner, yet again, tries to convince people that he has been badly treated and has done nothing wrong.

I would like to point out that members of the Forest of Dean District Council’s standards committee clearly saw in a recording, Cllr Andrew Gardiner make the V sign during the council meeting on April 20.

I was one councillor who made a complaint against Cllr Gardiner as I felt it was aimed at me.

The DVD and photographs clearly show this gesture during the debate.

I was amazed therefore that the decision made was that the ‘evidence was inconclusive’.

While I am very unhappy about it, and find it very difficult to understand, I have to accept the decision of a group of his peers.

He is very fond of expressing his views in the press and likes to portray himself as an eco-warrior and pillar of society and very much the hard-done-by person who everyone should feel sorry for.

He has called me a liar on a number of occasions, in public and on record. In his letter, yet again, he insinuates that lies have been told.

It would be very gratifying and show some grace if he could actually admit to some of his many misdemeanours instead of blaming all and sundry.

I have had to accept this decision of his peers, even though I know it was wrong, and I just wish he could have done the same on the occasions when there have been sanctions imposed on him in the past, which he has completely ignored.

No doubt Andrew will respond in his usual manner, stating that it has upset him and his family.

How do you think I feel, Andrew, being called a liar time and time again?

– Cllr Bernie O’Neill, (Lab) Forest of Dean District Council, Littledean and Ruspidge.