TWO Labour councillors at Warrington have made formal apologies to a Liberal Democrat councillor over false allegations concerning land at Peel Hall.
The allegations were published in Labour leaflets distributed in the Poulton North and Poplars and Hulme wards by Cllr Brian Maher and Cllr Geoff Settle (left).
Both councillors have apologised to Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Barr (right) on the North West Labour website following legal action taken by the Liberal Democrats.
Labour have paid £1,000 for the cost of the action.
The leaflets implied that council officers were having secret meetings with a developer and "negotiating" development at Peel Hall, with the knowledge or the complicity of the Liberal Democrats. This was untrue.
Cllr Barr said: "We want to see a higher standard of political debate in Warrington.
"We are offering Labour the opportunity to enter into a pact where both parties will provide factual evidence on demand for allegations made in leaflets. If either side makes a mistake or publishes an incorrect or untrue item in their literature they will correct it and apologise.
"We very much hope that all campaigners in Warrington will agree to abide by this code.   This will raise the standard of political debate and mean we can work together for the good of the people of Warrington where we agree, but have honest argument based on checkable facts when we don't."
In their apologies, the two Labour councillors both acknowledge that Liberal Democrat councillors, including Cllr Barr, were not involved in any "secret deal."
They say they are sorry the leaflet was open to be interpreted in that way and that it was not their intention to suggest any such allegation.