Planning abuse plans are unfounded, say police

No evidence to substantiate the allegations has been uncovered by the four month inquiry.

Police say that unless new information which can be substantiated is presented to them they consider the matter to be closed.

Concerned councillors called in June for the police inquiry to be re-opened after an initial investigation into allegations about Masonic influence made in the Commons by outgoing Bexhill and Battle MP Charles Wardle failed to uncover any wrong-doing.

In the House, Mr Wardle had called on Rother to clean out the stable...

In May five members of Rother called for a special meeting of the full council to debate the issue.

The June 12 Rother meeting voted that Rother chief executive Derek Stevens should ask Senlac police divisional commander Superintendent Paul Curtis to re-open the inquiry.

In a statement in response to Observer inquiries on Wednesday, the chief executive said: Following a thorough investigation and consultation with the Serious Fraud Office, the Sussex Police have now concluded their investigation into allegations of impropriety in the planning procedures of Rother District Council and have concluded that there is no evidence to suggest that any impropriety occurred.