A WAR of words has erupted surrounding the contents of an MP's correspondence with a constituent.

The fierce row between Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, and Dorset Council has come to the fore in an ongoing dispute over repair works - funded by the property owners - to a collapsed wall that has caused mayhem on the A30 Kit Hill in Sherborne.

Mr Loder has frequently criticised the council for the length of time it has taken repair work to start and accused Councillor Matthew Hall of being ‘absent’ throughout the past year.

In an 'open letter', sent to a constituent and subsequently published on social media, Mr Loder accused the council of placing ‘appalling and unfair pressure’ on the property owners to privately fund the repairs.

He said: “Dorset Council has put the most appalling and unfair pressure on an elderly lady, herself poorly with cancer and did not just flatly refuse to help, but did so only, after many months."

Mr Loder said he shared the diagnosis with the permission of the resident and hit back saying the council released a press release stating repairs would begin despite being asked not to - a release he says subjected them to 'unnecessary intimidation'.

Dorset Council said they were ‘disappointed’ that the MP had made reference to the constituent’s cancer diagnosis.

A spokesman for the council said: “We are very surprised and disappointed that Mr Loder did not contact the Council to check the facts before writing his open letter. If he had done so and had been prepared to listen then we could have avoided the false impression that Dorset Council is responsible for repairing the property owners’ wall, that pressure has been put on the property owners, and that the Council is responsible for the delays.

"We could also have avoided an untrue headline giving the false impression that councillors have not worked hard to resolve the problem so that the road can be fully re-opened.

“It is also surprising and disappointing that an MP would choose to publish in an open letter supplied to (the Western Gazette) sensitive personal information about the ill health of a constituent.

“We would also strongly refute any suggestion we have applied unnecessary pressure on the property owners; Dorset Council could have taken strong enforcement action at an earlier stage, but instead we chose to act with respect, discretion and compassion to allow them the opportunity to resolve the matter on their own terms."

Speaking to the Echo, Mr Loder said: “My constituent expressly instructed Dorset Council not to release their personal information concerning the A30 in Sherborne a couple of weeks ago. I also requested that a press release was not issued as works were not finalised.

"Despite this request, Dorset Council continued to issue such a release and raised expectations of the public that could not be met by this elderly couple. It caused them unnecessary intimidation. The difference here is that, unlike the council, what I have said about this situation I have done so with the resident’s permission.

“The council contacted me yesterday and intimated they may now take legal action against this elderly couple, one of whom is especially poorly – which is appalling given the responsible director has said that he fully expects a challenge from the couple about the exorbitant traffic management costs for which they are billing already.

 “The council can criticise me all it likes, but I will not stand by and watch these elderly constituents being treated in this way and will be consulting the Information Commissioner.”