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A NEW row has erupted after one of Hampshire's top councillors was thrown out of a meeting.

Mel Kendal has accused the chairman of Lyndhurst Parish Council, George Bisson, of "over-reacting" in a debate over changes to part of the village's one-way system.

However, Cllr Bisson has hit back, claiming Cllr Kendal was ejected from the meeting because he was being rude and arrogant.

Tempers flared during a discussion on Hampshire County Council's decision to create a new bus priority lane at Shrubbs Hill Road.

Parish councillors complained that the original signs failed to make it clear that the public could still use the left-hand lane to reach houses in Cedar Mount and Sandy Lane. They also accused highway chiefs of failing to consult the public.

Cllr Kendal, the county council's executive member for environment, clashed with Cllr Bisson over comments made at the meeting.

Cllr Kendal told the Daily Echo: "I tried to explain that the chairman's assertions were incorrect but he felt I was interrupting too much and asked me to leave. It was an over-reaction on his part - a chairman's job is to facilitate discussion, not prevent it."

Cllr Bisson said: "Mel attacked what he felt was non-support from the parish council and was allowed to state his case uninterrupted.

"When I began to give my reply I expected him to extend the same courtesy to me, but he wanted to interrupt at every stage and was asked to leave. I felt there was no place for rudeness and arrogance."

Lyndhurst district councillor Pat Wyeth, a former chairman of the parish council, said: "Mel kept butting in every time George said something.

"Eventually George stood up and told him to leave. Mel said he had other things to say but George said No - leave now'.

"It was a very unfortunate incident that should never have happened. If it had been me I'd have said Cllr Kendal we're not getting anywhere, let's close the subject'.'' Cllr Kendal is also the county councillor for Lyndhurst and is also leader of New Forest District Council.

Last month Cllr Wyeth was chairing a meeting of the district planning committee when she clashed with Cllr Kendal over the timing of a lunch break.

Cllr Kendal told her: "I am the leader of this council. I run the council and I run the canteen."

11:39am Saturday 12th July 2008

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