Tempers flared at a meeting of Three Rivers District Council yesterday evening, after a councillor was branded “a liar”.

At the beginning of December, the Watford Observer reported how Three Rivers District councillors Ty Harris and Graham Denham had been turned away from parish council offices on the basis that “political meetings of any kind at any time” could not be held there.

The Northwick and Ashridge ward councillors and Conservative representatives, had booked the offices in Oxhey Drive for a few hours to hold an “informal” surgery, but after accepting payment the parish council then cancelled the booking.

At the meeting last night, a motion was tabled to condemn the undemocratic actions of Watford Rural Parish Council, as it has a "long-standing position to allow an MP's surgery in its offices".

Councillor Chris Hayward, [Conservative] blasted the parish council, claiming his party are being discriminated against.

He said: “District councillors in South Oxhey are being discriminated against by Labour-controlled Watford Rural Parish Council, who are seemingly desperate to prevent South Oxhey residents from meeting with their duly-elected councillors, simply because they are Conservatives.

“Conservative councillors Harris, Butwick and Denham are working hard for the people of the area and constituents want to see them.

"But after accepting our booking to hold our councillors’ surgery in their officers, Watford Rural Parish Council suddenly reneged, trying to prevent South Oxhey residents from meeting their democratically elected representatives.

“We ask that this outrage is condemned.”

Several members including Councillor Stephen King[Labour] referred to Councillor Hayward’s claims as "farcical" and asked that the council not condemn their actions as under parish council rules, the venue could not be hired for political meetings.

Debate followed between councillors Hayward and Pam Hames as to whether the surgery meeting had been booked for an MP or a councillor, as the invoice for hire stated “Purpose of Hire: MP David Gauke”.

But Councillor Hayward rubbished these claims, inferring that perhaps the booking information had been taken down incorrectly.

Councillor Phil Redshaw [Labour] then branded Councillor Hayward a “liar”, saying that the surgery had been booked for a political meeting.

He added: “It is not discrimination.

"If you want to talk about democracy, how about Conservatives pinning their leaflets to the parish council’s notice-boards, which is not only unfair, but illegal.”

Despite Councillor Hayward demanding that Councillor Redshaw retract “liar”, he refused.

A motion to condemn Watford Rural Parish Council was turned down.