A PETERSFIELD town councillor has been rapped over the knuckles for his ÒscurrilousÓ behaviour after ignoring fellow councillorsÕ pleas not to name a possible site for a permanent travellersÕ campsite.

Although councillors were careful not to name him at their meeting on Monday night, it was clear they were talking about John Crowhurst, who was not present.

After the meeting an unrepentant Mr Crowhurst told The Herald: ÒThis smacks of censorship,Ó and added that he was entitled to express his opinions.

Earlier this summer Mr Crowhurst pushed for the setting up of a permanent campsite for travellers so that councillors could take advantage of proposed new police powers. These powers would enable police to evict travellers from illegal campsites if there was a permanent site available.

Councillors debating the issue in August decided not to name a site in the Petersfield area. But after the meeting Mr Crowhurst suggested an area on the old Portsmouth Road, above the Butser cutting.

This week town mayor Mary Vincent reminded councillors that the only official spokesmen for the council were the mayor and the town clerk.

She said any councillor talking to the press or public outside the council chamber had to make it Òcrystal clearÓ that they were giving their own views, and these did not reflect the views of the council.

Brian Keefe told the meeting that the report in the local papers, following the traveller debate, gave a Òcompletely false picture of the views expressed by this council. We all obeyed the instruction not to name the place and yet when I read the accounts in the press they were quite contrary to what was discussedÓ.

ÒScaremongering is a terrible thing,Ó he told councillors, adding that several ÒfuriousÓ people had approached him after the articles appeared in the papers.

He said he had to persuade people that although the accounts were not ÔmisreportingÕ they were not what had been discussed inside the council chamber.

He said the actions of the councillor concerned had been Òbad manneredÓ and ÒinappropriateÓ and could not be justified.

ÒIt was scurrilous and this is a word I do not use lightly,Ó he told councillors, and said he hoped Òthe person who did thisÓ would have a chance to withdraw his remarks.

Brian Dutton told councillors he did not believe the town mayorÕs statement was solely aimed at the councillor not present, although he had been the centre of the problem.

He said the statement reminded all members to make it clear they were giving their own personal views when talking to the press and public outside the council chamber.

But Elsa Bulmer said she was concerned about remarks made inside the chamber, which she thought should be stressed were personal views.

Chris Jenner told her he was elected to give his opinions and he was entitled to express them in debates.

ÒWe wonÕt always agree with one another,Ó he told councillors, Òand if at any time I think I am going to be gagged, I am off.Ó

This week Mr Crowhurst told The Herald: ÒIf this debate was aimed at me, it was a pretty bad show that it was all done behind my back.

ÒFor me to be spoken about, even without any names mentioned and not to be told in advance there there was something on the agenda to concern me, is sheer bad manners.

ÒThis smacks of censorship by the majority of the minority. I think it is an attempt by certain councillors to create a censorship.Ó

He added: ÒIf we are going to be suppressed from speaking on something which is of public interest - which is not about a contractor or an individual - this is really the suppression of democracy.

ÒIf a councillor says something in this manner, it could be nothing else but his own view - I have my own opinion and I am entitled to my own opinion.Ó