A TAUNTON man's attempt to have the newly-appointed Queen's representative in Somerset removed from his post has failed.

Dave Orr lodged an official complaint after Mohammed Saddiq was chosen to take over as the county's Lord Lieutenant from the end of October.

Mr Orr claimed the appointment represented a "conflict of interest" taking into consideration Mr Saddiq's role as executive director of operations with Wessex Water - and even suggested it could bring the Queen into disrepute "by association".

But the Prime Minister's appointments secretary dismissed the request to replace Mr Saddiq, saying "all due process was correctly followed".

Mr Orr's beef centres around the discharge of phosphate toxins onto the Somerset Levels, which has led to delays in the construction of thousands of new homes in the county.

He said Mr Saddiq's Wessex Water position means he holds "a direct senior role in the oversight and management" of wastewater operations, sewage works investment, waste discharges and discharge monitoring.

"It is abundantly clear that Mr Mohammed Saddiq's Wessex Water directorship is a direct conflict of interest with his role as Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant for Somerset," said Mr Orr.

"The Government has made direct links between the phosphates issues in the rivers and the Levels of Somerset with Wessex Water.

"Mr Mohammed Saddiq's appointment is highly controversial and could result in embargoes, petitions etc and thus bring Her Majesty into disrepute by association."

Mr Orr recently wrote to the PM's appointments secretary Jonathan Hellewell requesting that Mr Saddiq stands down or is replaced immediately.

Failing that he is threatening to start a petition calling on Mr Saddiq to stand down "out of respect for the damage caused" to the Somerset environment by Wessex Water.

Following an investigation, Mr Hellewell wrote to Mr Orr saying: "Having conducted my review of the process by which Mr. Saddiq was appointed, I am satisfied that all due process was correctly followed."

The County Gazette contacted Wessex Water requesting comment from the company and Mr Saddiq.

A spokesperson for the company said: “Mohammed Saddiq’s role as Lord Lieutenant of Somerset is a voluntary position which he will be undertaking in his own time.

"It is not linked to his Wessex Water position or work.”

Mr Saddiq will next month replace Annie Maw, who has been Lord Lieutenant of Somerset for eight years.