South Wales Evening Post - 1st April 2009
Security guards had to be called to escort a Swansea councillor out of a heated meeting.
There were cheers from the public gallery as Mawr representative Ioan Richard was led from the council chamber.
Things came to ahead towards the end of a 90 minute planning meeting to decide whether or not to grant permission to allow green waste and composting treatment to take place at Abergelli Farm, Velindre.
Mr Richard, who had earlier said that he was in favour of the controversial plan, ignored repeated calls to sit down and be quiet from deputy chair of the area one development control committee, Viv Abbott.
Sparks flew when Councillor Richard accused Councillor John Miles – who was against the proposal – of not have an “open mind”.
He said Councillor Miles’ son-in-law ran a pub from which the petition against the application had been launched.
Councillor Miles then turned the tables when he asked: ”How can Councillor Richard, who has access to that evidence and phoned people in Pontardulais and asked them why they signed the petition, have an open mind?”
Councillor Richard then caused uproar when he said: “I admit I have phone some petitioners up.”
Councillors voted to refuse permission.
