Attack over time away.

A COUNCILLOR was rapped over the amount of time he is away from his ward.

Peter Mitchell, 26, representative for Pelaw and Gilesgate on Durham City Council, has spent part of the last three months between London and Washington DC.

And while people on his ward have apparently seen little of him, Coun Mitchell was at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Coun Mitchell, who plans to move to America to marry his fiance, is a councillor for the opposition Labour group and was a researcher for the city's MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods.

Lib Dem Coun Dennis Southwell, who represents Gilesgate on Durham County Council, said: "I believe Peter Mitchell hasn't been seen in Gilesgate since before Christmas. The people who elected him are hardly getting value for council tax money."

But Coun Mitchell said: "I can still represent the people of my ward better than many councillors I know who are based full-time in Durham. In the last three months I have spent only 17 days in the US.

"I was visiting my fiancee, Emily, who is a primary school teacher in Washington DC. So I make no apology whatsoever for leaving Durham for just over two weeks to see my future wife.

"I will be at the next Durham City Council meeting on February 24 when I will be raising an issue regarding the Liberal Democrats' policy on affordable housing in Durham. I do keep in touch with council affairs although I am effectively dividing my time between the USA, London and Durham."

CAPTION(S):

UNDER FIRE: Coun Peter Mitchell