A MAYOR threatened to kick the public out of a meeting considering the flooding of land at a controversial housing development.

Hay-on-Wye Town Council called the special council meeting last week to discuss the right of way or easement of council owned land to help solve flooding problems on the Gipsy Castle Lane site where 80 homes are planned for.

Hay-on-Wye mayor Robert Golesworthy described some of the 20 members of the public who attended the meeting as being "rude and arrogant".

He said: "Each member of the public had their say and they brought nothing new to the table.

"But when the council were debating the issue they carried on which was disappointing. I told them if they didn't stop I would have the room cleared.

"They shut up then and listened to what the councillors had to say. Quiet a few people were then surprised to see the council proceed in a responsible manner.

"People tend to forget that we're volunteers and some of the public were being rude and arrogant at the meeting."

The town council agreed that if planning permission was granted by Brecon Beacons National Park, then they would allow easement for the housing company to take flood water through town council owned land subject to negotiations.

Mr Golesworthy added: "I think the decision was right as we are not experts and we are happy for the provisions to be put in place to deal with the flooding."

Former councillor Dawn Lewis and founder of Hay LDP action group said that councillors weren't prepared to listen to the members of the public present.

She said: "They didn't want us to have any input whatsoever, we could have had vital information but they weren't prepared to listen.

"They are supposed to represent the town so should listen to what people think."