A CONTROVERSIAL councillor was told he is costing his local authority highways department more than £6,000 every year through his inquiries.

It has also been suggested that Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge (pictured) is impinging on the work of the highways department of Caerphilly county borough council by questioning their decisions.

The council's chief engineer, David Williams, made the claims in a reply to a letter from Councillor Etheridge calling for a traffic order on Cefn Road at its junction with South View and Bloomfield Road in Blackwood.

Mr Williams said: "I am in receipt from you of an increasing number of inquiries on a range of matters instigated by yourself, some of which are outside your ward. "I have estimated the cost of dealing with these inquiries, on an annual basis, at over £6,000.

"Much of this work requires me to justify the work of my staff and very little of this time contributes to service delivery on the ground."

He added: "My officers must be trusted to follow agreed problems and procedures. There is a limit to which these should need to be explained and justified.

"Going beyond that impinges on our service to members and the public. I trust you will understand my position and your acceptance will help maintain the service you deserve as a member and also reduce our unit costs."

But unrepentant Liberal Democrat Councillor Etheridge said: "Since my election, residents have contacted me with several hundred queries and I will not be gagged - residents must come first over officers' views and that is what I was elected for.

"This letter, I believes, has major implications for all members in their ward work. Am I being targeted for being so active in putting the residents first?"

Councillor Etheridge said he has arranged to meet council chief executive Malgwyn Davies this week to discuss the issue.