ANGRY residents in Bere Alston slow-hancapped their parish council last week when they were refused permission to speak at a packed council meeting.

More than 70 parishioners were at the monthly Bere Ferrers Parish Council meeting in Bere Alston Parish Hall.

They wanted to raise concerns on several issues, including the council?s support for the building of around 30 homes at Pentillie Road, Bere Alston, against the recommendations of the Local Plan inquiry inspector.

A note advising people of the meeting had been circulated, but had not come from the parish council. The note included items due to be discussed and invited people to ?attend and have your say. This parish needs your support?, it stated.

Members of the public were left standing in the car park for some time until being allowed into the parish hall.

Council chairman Cllr Eaon Wager told them it was a full council meeting, not an open one, and they could stay to listen but would not be allowed to speak or ask questions.

?All parishioners are always welcome, but not for open discussion,? he said.

But Cllr Jane Nash said the public had been given a chance to speak at the previous council meeting although this had not been mentioned in the minutes. ?It would be nice to recognise the fact,? she said.

Cllr Wager said there was no problem with parishioners speaking ?but tonight there is a long agenda, we are too busy?.

When he declined to give any indication of when an open meeting might be held, tempers flared in the hall.

Cllr Wager announced the council was retiring to continue in the council chamber and councillors were slow-handclapped as they did so.

Residents stayed discussing the meeting and issues in small groups.

Bere Alston resident Mike Benson said the ?very short-sighted council? had not decided to adjust the meeting to fit the feelings of the general public.

?They made themselves a laughing stock by sticking to a petty agenda,? he said.

Another resident said a councillor asked her to encourage people to come to meetings. ?But when we do they treat us like this.?

Geoffrey Stowell said that if the ?bit by bit? development of Bere Ferrers peninsula was allowed to continue, a stage would be reached where Plymouth City Council would want to take it over.

He added: ?They?re supposed to be representing us. It?s a shame they wouldn?t discuss it. They?ve done nothing to stop it happening.?

Sarah Pike, also of Bere Alston, did not feel the council had the interest of the parishioners at heart. ?If they did they would realise the passion with which we care about the village.? By ?ploughing on with the meeting? they had been ?asking for trouble?.

But Judy Medhurst was not impressed with those who had lost their tempers. ?Something like that is divisive. It is not necessary and not democratic,? she said.

Lesley Smith, secretary of the Devon Association of Parish Councils, said there had obviously been a clash of expectations, which would not have done any good. ?That?s why people talking to one another is such a good idea. Why not pick up the phone and chat??

She pointed out councillors were only volunteers ? ordinary people ? and hoped the differences could be ironed out. ?Take a deep breath and move on,? she said.