AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a Waterside parish councillor was accused of abusing her position for her own ends.

Fawley councillor Alexis McEvoy said her conscious was clear after being accused of failing to declare personal interests and using her seat to secure an advantage.

Investigators, the Standards Board for England, revealed Cllr McEvoy, a Conservative councillor, had been reported by another member of the parish council.

Both Fawley Parish Council, which is also made up of Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors, and the Standards Board, are refusing to outline the allegations in detail.

But Cllr McEvoy - a former county councillor - has branded the accusations as "political opportunism" by the opposition parties.

She said: "I've done nothing wrong at all. The accusation sounds so bad, but it's so untrue.

"My conscience is totally clear. I've no worries about what the outcome will be.

"We're all supposed to be there for the interests and benefits of the council tax payers. Sadly some people don't seem to understand that.

"It's a political game and really I don't want to get involved in it."

Chairman of the council, Allan Glass, also a Conservative, said: "I cannot comment on the investigation because it's a confidential matter. I can't envisage Alexis McEvoy ever doing anything disreputable.

"I'm trying to run the council, ignoring party politics and want everyone to work together for the best of the parish. Unfortunately not everybody seems to have that intent."

No member of the council would comment on the investigation.

A spokesman for the Standards Board said: "The area of the code of conduct that the allegation relates to is a failure to declare personal interests and using a position improperly to confer or secure an advantage or disadvantage."

The investigation is likely to be completed within six months.