NEWS that there is to be an independent inquiry into the way Cornwall Council has dealt with allegations that a Cornwall Councillor is a 'serious and enduring risk to children' have been welcomed.

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston Central Alex Folkes, who rejects the claims that he is a 'risk' to children, responded to the news on his blog.

He wrote: "I cautiously welcome this acceptance by the council that there are significant question marks over the process they have followed."

Cornwall Council Conservative Party Group Leader Fiona Ferguson called for the inquiry and confirmed the council leader told her it would take place.

Cornwall Council, in a statement last week, said that it had launched its own investigation after it received 'initial information raising serious child protection concerns relating to Councillor Folkes'.

"As part of the investigation we were given information by the police which was assessed by the Local Authority's Designated Officer (LADO) as part of the council's formal safeguarding process.

"Based on the information supplied by the police at this stage, the LADO process concluded that Councillor Folkes represented a serious and enduring risk to children.

"This decision was later confirmed by additional information supplied by the police."

The council also said that its investigation led to the director for education, health and social care Trevor Doughty writing to schools and children's settings in the Launceston area.

On his blog, Cllr Folkes, who resigned from the cabinet earlier in the month and is taking a leave of absence from the council for a few weeks, criticised the county authority and its chief executive, Andrew Kerr.

Cllr Folkes explained that in 2006, before he was a councillor, he was arrested after being linked by his debit or credit card to a website containing indecent images of children, but no charges were brought against him.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.