LEDBURY Town Council has taken its first possible steps towards fighting its corner in a costly Judicial Review.

The exchange of solicitors' letters, which now seems inevitable, will be linked to contested allegations that two town councillors bullied members of staff.

Following a meeting last Friday, most of which took place behind closed doors as a "private and confidential" matter, councillors voted to seek legal advice.

The Judicial Review, if it happens, will look at the processes followed by the town council in finding two town councillors, Cllr Liz Harvey and Cllr Andrew Harrison, guilty of bullying staff.

These procedures were under employment law; but a separate Code of Conduct investigation, by Herefordshire Council found that neither Cllrs Harvey and Harrison had been in breach of the Code, which covers how councillors must treat others.

One of the accused town councillors, Cllr Harvey, recently instructed her solicitor to submit a "pre-action protocol" letter to the town council ; and the town council had been given a deadline of August 4 to accept it had no power to investigate the bullying complaints; that the decision by the town council to prevent Cllr Harvey and Cllr Andrew Harrison from participating in committee meetings should be reversed, and that neither of the councillors was guilty of a breach of the Code of Conduct.

Cllrs Harvey and Harrison, however, are still unable speak or participate in town council committee meetings, more than one year on from the original town council investigations, although they can participate in full town council meetings.

Speaking at a recent full town council meeting, Cllr Harvey said: "I want to make it clear that if the sanctions that have been extended against Cllr Harrison and myself are not withdrawn, the council will be at risk of a Judicial Review."

Speaking after last Friday's meeting, former town mayor Cllr Annette Crowe said: "All we are doing is seeking legal advice concerning a legal letter we have received.

"It is Cllr Harvey who has sent the legal letter, and we have to respond in kind."

Should the matter finally go to Judicial Review, and if costs are charged to the town council, an estimated £140,000 might have to be paid out from the public purse.