A FORMER parish council chairman accused of failing to declare personal interests in community business has labelled the claims as "outrageous".

An investigation into the affairs of Fulford Parish councillor Mike Williamson has been launched by the Standards Board for England after it received a number of complaints about the conduct of councillors in the parish.

Mr Williamson, a joint managing partner at York law firm Langleys, who resigned from his post as parish chairman earlier this year citing pressure of work, said the accusations were "hurtful and disappointing." He added: "I deny there has been any conscious wrongdoing on my part."

The Standards Board, which was set up to promote ethical standards in local councils, has received seven complaints of breaches of the code of conduct at Fulford Parish Council.

But a spokeswoman confirmed today that only three allegations, made against Mr Williamson by a fellow councillor and members of the public, would be pursued further. Officers at the Government watchdog have cleared councillors David Scott, Neil Bellamy and Alan Smith after receiving complaints that they too had failed to properly declare interests.

Mr Williamson said the complaints have arisen from the role of his wife as a governor of St Oswald's Primary School and the location of his home near Fulford Social Hall.

The hall, in School Lane, could be demolished in a package of proposals that would see the Fulford primary school rebuilt, under a controversial Government private finance initiative scheme.

Mr Williamson said a "vociferous minority" were engaged in point- scoring against members of the council. He said: "But we should not allow ourselves to be dragged away from the real issues."

Richard Clark, head of legal services at City of York Council, holds the register of financial and other interests for parish councillors and offers advice on code of conduct issues. He said he was aware that a number of complaints against the parish council had been passed to the Standards Board but added he could not comment on the on-going investigation.

Parish Council chairman David Scott, a partner at Pattison and Brewer solicitors, said the council would co-operate "completely and fully" with the Standards Board investigation. Counl Bellamy said he was unaware of what the nature of the complaint against him had been. Coun Alan Smith was unavailable for comment.

Updated: 10:26 Tuesday, March 25, 2003