ST HELENS Council leader Brian Spencer has been reported to the Standards Board for England for allegedly influencing a planning verdict that could put the proposed Parkside rail freight terminal in jeopardy.

The claims, made by a rival Labour councillor, follow the decision by the local authority's planning committee to vote in favour of proposals to redevelop Newton Park farmhouse and barn to create 37 new homes.

Councillor Spencer, who is this week attending the Liberal Democrat party conference in Brighton, totally refutes the allegations.

He accused the Labour party of "using dirty tricks" in an attempt to "discredit" the council that is now run jointly by the Lib Dems and Conservative party.

The controversy has stemmed from a planning committee meeting where proposals to re-develop the farm buildings standing on land situated next to the former Parkside colliery, were heard.

The new homes development may still need to get approval from government, but if does go ahead there could be major consequences for plans to build the rail freight terminal on the former pit - a project that backers say could create 10,000 new jobs.

Cllr Spencer does not sit on the planning committee. He was present in the public gallery during the meeting, which he is fully entitled to do.

At the meeting, the committee went against the council's officers' recommendations to reject a planning application to re-build the farmhouse.

After a tie in votes, seven for and seven against, planning chair and Lib Dem councillor Richard Ferry used his casting vote to grant the application permission.

Labour councillor Keith Roberts, who sits on the planning committee, has now sent a letter to the independent watchdog for ethics and standards alleging Council Leader Brian Spencer "unduly influenced" the planning committee.

His accusations allege that: Councillor Spencer was twice heard during the meeting to say the committee should vote to accept the application and that he used his position as council leader to influence the planning committee to approve the application for Newton Park Farm in order to adversely affect proposals for the Parkside rail freight terminal.

Cllr Spencer described the allegations as "total fabrication". He added: "I did not make any comment during that debate nor did I speak to any member or officer."

The Standards Board for England will now decide whether Cllr Spencer faces an investigation. Meanwhile, plans for Newton Bank Farm will go back to a planning committee to have conditions set down against the planning consent.

Given that the farm project involves developing homes on greenbelt land, the application could yet be called in' by the government for further consideration.