Sir,

As I am sure you already know, I resigned from my post as a member of the Cabinet of Pembrokeshire County Council because I was fed up with the abuse and harassment I and my family have undergone for the last five years or more.

I made a personal statement at the Council meeting last Thursday which I had thought long and hard about.

I would be grateful if you would print the statement in full so that your readers can get a proper understanding of why I resigned.

STATEMENT

Mr. Chairman, Leader, Colleagues, thank you for this opportunity to make this brief statement. I won't take much of your time but I have some things to say which I think are important. I want to make an apology. As you all know I am a simple man and I do my best. Unfortunately, I also sometimes lose my cool and I say things that I regret later. Today I want to apologise publicly for anything I may have said or done that has caused any distress.

Over the last five years or so, I have suffered a relentless campaign against me. My family have been drawn into this vendetta and I am not prepared for this to go on any longer. I made what I accept were some very stupid comments about a BBC TV reporter and I deeply regret those comments. Despite the continued provocation I received, I apologised to him and his employers in writing over 18 months ago, although I have not heard a word of reply.

You will all know the Standards Committee decided I had not brought this council into disrepute. However, I do apologise to you my colleagues for any problems I have caused.

I have been a councillor for more years than I care to mention with Pembroke Dock Town Council, South Pembs District Council and now with the County Council. I like to think I have made a contribution, but one thing I know is that I have worked very hard, I do my best for Pembroke Dock and Pembrokeshire and I have worked all the hours God gave us.

My commitment is to the people of this county and this council and I have driven thousands of miles on its behalf. I have been falsely accused of all sorts of criminal offences by certain individuals and I have been investigated by the District Auditor, Ombudsman, the local police and the Fraud Squad and I have been cleared of any offences.

I've had enough of it and I am not going to take it any more. So that there is no doubt in anyone's mind, I have made a decision.

I have given the Chief Executive a letter revoking my right to claim travelling expenses. I will not be claiming such expenses for the rest of the term of this council.

I have also had a conversation with the Leader and I have told him that I intend to resign from the Mid and West Wales Fire Authority immediately my term of office as Chairman finishes shortly. I have asked the Leader to decide on my replacement on the Fire Authority.

That was my position until the last 12 hours. I have thought long and hard and as always have decided my family comes paramount.

Knowing that this tirade of abuse will continue even though I have been proved innocent on a number of occasions, I now offer the Leader my resignation from the Cabinet and I shall decide later whether I shall remain a member of the Independent group. I shall continue to serve this county and the people of Pembroke Dock which I have always tried to do to the best of my ability.

I shall now leave. Thank you for listening to me.

Brian Hall,

Pembrokeshire County Council, County Hall, Haverfordwest.