A councillor who lives in Portsmouth charged taxpayers more than £570 in expenses for travel to meetings last year.

Conservative Councillor Peter Pitt put in claims for nine 160-mile return trips to Hounslow between February and October, 2008.

Coun Pitt, whose registered address is in Purbrook, Hampshire - 66 miles from the Civic Centre - represents residents in Feltham West.

He has turned up to two out of 12 meetings that he was expected to attend in the last six months.

He strenuously denied suggestions he lived in Spain, saying it was a myth he had been the victim of since he was elected in 2006.

He said: “In fact it is my wife who lives in Spain as she has a property there and adores the country, whereas I am somewhat neutral about it.

“I do visit her during the holiday seasons but to suggest I live there is simply untrue. Maybe in the future but not in the forseeable one.

“It is true I left the Hounslow area to live in Hampshire, and I also live for some months in Oxford where I have a small place.”

Coun Pitt asked the council’s head of legal services if he could resign when he decided to move out of the borough, but was told a byelection would cost £30,000.

He agreed to continue his role, but said he would not seek re-election in 2010.

He said: “It seemed more economic for me to claim for my mileage from Hampshire, a round trip of 160 miles, than for the ratepayers of Hounslow to find £30,000 for an unnecessary byelection.

“I was told I had to attend a number of meetings to maintain the seat and have indeed exceeded the minimum requirement for this.

“I agree the issue of expenses is very sensitive at the moment. Thus prior to making any claim I requested advice on the matter from the council as to the legality of any claim I made. It was confirmed to me that I could make such a claim.”

He added: “I have enjoyed my time as a Hounslow councillor but will not be unduly sorry when my time is over. Afterwards I can actually decide to live in Spain if I want to.”

A spokesman for Hounslow Council said: “There is no actual geographical limits to what you can claim for travel, as long as it’s for council business.”