A LOUGHTON pensioner who spent years waging a campaign against Epping Forest Council ensured his feelings were made clear even after his death.

Len Benton's attention was focused mainly on a traffic calming scheme for Forest Road in Loughton.

And when his wishes were not satisfied council chief executive John Burgess was one of those whom Mr Benton held personally responsible.

The day before his death earlier this month six months after he was diagnosed with lung cancer Mr Benton, accompanied by his son Don, had a meeting with a barrister with a view to taking legal action following an alleged incident at the Civic Offices in Epping, when Mr Benton claimed he was manhandled by two men.

Such were Mr Benton's feelings about the council that following his death, aged 80, his family published an obituary notice in this newspaper saying that he had requested that Mr Burgess did not attend his funeral.

The tribute read: "Len will be sadly missed by his family and many others, except perhaps by a few senior council officers, some councillors, and one or two current and ex-MPs."

It added: "Len, a lover of jazz, his grand and greatgrandchildren, did not want his funeral to be a sad occasion and did request that CEO Burgess of EFDC does not attend."

Some years ago Mr Benton received £20,000 from the Metropolitan Police after winning a case for wrongful arrest following a motoring incident in Woodford Green which involved an off-duty policeman in another car who pursued Mr Benton after he filtered into traffic ahead of the off-duty officer at traffic lights, his son recalled.

Don Benton added: "He (the off-duty policeman) took exception and started chasing my father. It took him four years to fight that one but he didn't give up."

Mr Benton, described in the obituary column as "always a rebel, a champion of causes and people's rights", was well-known for his letters and telephone calls to councillors and senior officers.

He would also make lengthy calls to the Guardian, during which he would say that the officers had been told not to speak to him.

Don Benton told the Guardian: "That upset him enormously. He was always fighting his corner, giving a little bit of stick to make them do their job. He always stood up for the underdog. He didn't let go.

"Unfortunately at times I felt he was too obstructive. He did fail to see the other person's point of view once he'd made his mind up."

Mr Benton joined the campaign fighting for free bus passes for OAPs, and once received a letter from then Epping Forest MP Steven Norris threatening to sue him for libel.

Ongar district councillor Ron Barnes, writing in a newspaper column, said "recipients of his telephone calls were told to have no truck with him and so often he found that he was cut off and the phone put down".

Mr Barnes, who attended Mr Benton's funeral at Parndon Wood crematorium, Harlow, where the hearse was led by a jazz band, told the Guardian he had been known to spend five minutes on the telephone to Mr Benton.

"I tried to listen to him but he went on and on and on, but I never put the phone down on him. He would ring one councillor and they would listen to him and then he'd ring another. Some would (listen) but they wouldn't for long."

When a traffic calming scheme for Forest Road was agreed, it was not the full £50,000 project which Mr Benton favoured.

Mr Barnes said: "They did a job but not what he wanted. We had two quotes and we chose the second one and he was really upset about that."

The council would not comment on whether officers were given permission to hang up on him, but in a statement said: "Mr Benton had a dispute about traffic calming with the council which continued for several years.

"Councillors and staff spent many hours on the phone and in meetings with him. He was also a prolific letter writer and corresponded regularly with the local newspapers, MPs and other organisations. Unfortunately we were unable to satisfy him despite our best efforts and he held the chief executive among others responsible.

"Clearly at this time we are sensitive to the feelings of his family, and do not think any further comment would be appropriate."

Mr Benton leaves two sons, Don and Peter, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

November 29, 2001 8:50