THE Conservatives in Hillingdon plumbed new depths at [the July 3] council meeting.

I am not referring to Cllrs Mills's rant about a few Labour council-lors abstaining from prayers, nor the blatant and undemocratic way in which the Tory group stifled debate on the rights of objectors to major planning applications.

No, I am referring to the sickening laughs, sniggers and hilarity which came from the Conservative benches when Councillor Burrows was reeling out the number of deaths and accidents on the roads in Pinkwell ward in Hayes.

Mr Burrows probably thought he was being funny by trying to humiliate Councillor Duncan, who chose to raise the issue of the need for a crossing in Ickenham.

Instead he created a gastly showpiece where the number of victims on our roads was used as a pantomine weapon to beat a fellow councillor with.

Personally speaking I see nothing funny in using the tragic statistics of road accidents to score cheap political points.

I was disgusted, and others in the public gallery watching were sickened by the sight.

MIKE COX, councillor for Ruislip Manor and leader of the Lib Dem group on Hillingdon Council, Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge.