A ROAD safety charity has slammed the decision by Magistrates not to impose a driving ban on an Altrincham councillor because it could cause "exceptional hardship."

Councillor Alex Williams pleaded guilty at Penrith Magistrates Court last week to speeding at 89mph in his two-year-old Audi TT on the M6 in Cumbria in June.

He received three penalty points which when added to the existing nine points already on his licence could have resulted in a disqualification through totting up' legislation.

But justices opted not to ban him, accepting Williams' claims that it would result in him losing his job as an accountant for Manchester firm Ernst and Young and that his wife - leader of the council Susan Williams - would not be able to pay the more than £2,000 a month mortgage on her own.

His three step-children, two of whom live with him and his wife would be disadvantaged if they lost their home, he said.

A spokesperson for the national road safety charity Brake, said: "It is appalling that someone who has broken the law and risked his life and the lives of others should not receive proper punishment because of the hardship it may cause him.

"This is sending the message that you can break the law and get away with it. We need to see tougher enforcement and penalties for traffic laws to prevent the horrifying carnage that occurs every single day on UK roads."

Williams, 31, of Park Road, Hale, who has been a Conservative councillor at Trafford council since 2004 was fined £300 and £35 costs.

He was also told he could not use the reason of exceptional hardship to escape a ban again for the next three years.

Speaking after the case he said: "It is something that I apologise for. Speeding is not something that people should do."

sam.editorial@messengergrp.co.uk