A DAMNING report has slated Leeds City Council for failing to carry out promised conservation projects at a Rawdon beauty spot - for five years.

Local government Ombudsman Patricia Thomas today found the authority guilty of "maladministration causing injustice" due to its failure to act at Rawdon Billing.

After accepting it had made a mistake in allowing a mobile phone mast to be built in the conservation area, the council agreed back in 2000 (and again in 2002), to implement a range of conservation works as compensation.

But when those projects failed to materialise, founder member of Rawdon Billing Conservation Group, Phil Gomersall, lodged an official complaint.

In today's report, Mrs Thomas applauds Mr Gomersall for his perseverance - and lambasts Leeds for failing to honour the agreement.

She said: "The council compounded its original error in issuing an incorrect notice by its continuing failure to implement the settlement that it agreed."

Mr Gomersall, who has now received a letter of apology, said: "I'm really, really pleased because I've been chasing this for five years now so it is satisfying that the Ombudsman has come out so strongly in our favour.

"The report is extremely critical of the council's behaviour and gives them until the end of December to complete all the works.

"But the Ombudsman did give the council an ultimatum two years ago which it flagrantly ignored.

"I asked 'what happens if it still doesn't get done? and I've been told the only powers the Ombudsman has is to embarrass the council, so I'm not holding my breath for anything to happen.

"The council agreed to carry out ten environmental improvements to compensate the local community for incorrectly allowing the telephone mast and they have repeatedly failed to do so.

"They've only completed one thing to date, which was to put up four public footpath signs, and even those weren't done as we'd asked.

"One of the main things we asked for was a motorbike restriction for the bottom of the Billing, putting some sort of physical obstruction in at the entrance to stop them getting in.

"That was the priority. But we've also been waiting for planting to take place around the mast's antennae and cabin, Take Your Litter Home notices to go up and for footpaths to be cleared - we've ended up doing most of that ourselves."

Mr Gomersall first complained in 2000 that Leeds had failed to properly consider an application for planning permission for the siting of a telecommunications mast in Rawdon Billing.

He successfully argued that the mast had a detrimental effect upon an area of natural beauty.

The council, accepting its mistake, agreed to meet the conservation group and civic society to agree on measures which would lessen the impact.

But Mrs Thomas concluded that the council, over an "unreasonably long period of time", failed to implement that settlement.

A spokesman for the authority said: "An order has been placed for the outstanding landscaping and these works will be carried out by the end of the year.

"We acknowledge that the time period for dealing with this has been unsatisfactory and apologise for any inconvenience caused."

In the report, the council's Chief Planning and Develop-ment Services manager states: "I have looked into this as a matter of urgency and, quite frankly, it is a sorry tale.

"Whilst we have gone through a period of some upheaval over the past 18 months, and the planning service is under extreme pressure, I would not begin to seek to justify a series of failures that have contributed to the current position.

"I find it difficult to identify any redeeming features of this matter except to say it has acted as a catalyst for substantial change."

The council has also agreed to make a series of changes to its procedures, especially in regards to responding to complaints.