TEMPERS flared at Petersfield Town Council on Monday after former mayor Katie Pitt was refused a grant to hire the Festival Hall for a charity concert in aid of the Royal Marines. Eighty-three-year-old Miss Pitt had been advised to apply for a grant after having her request to hire the Festival Hall free turned down last month. She hired the hall on Saturday evening when MP Michael Mates and William Godfree, head of music from Liphook's Highfield School, featured the music of Richard Stillgoe and Peter Skellern in a concert. But the grants panel recommended that her request should be refused on the grounds that it would set a precedent. It said the Royal Marines l939 fund was a national charity and there was no evidence that any Petersfield people would benefit. On Monday night, Petersfield mayor Paul Molloy told a full meeting of councillors that he personally believed the town council should support the Royal Marines. He said: "As far as setting a precedent is concerned, it really does not set one because I have personal experience of having been given one for the jubilee committee. As for this being a national charity, I would dispute that. "As for whether there are Petersfield recipients. This is always difficult to gauge. You could say take charities like Cancer Research and say you really can't tell whether anyone has received direct benefit. We live near to Portsmouth and it would be hard to believe we haven't got any servicemen or women who have been injured in conflict." He said four Royal Marines attended the concert on Saturday, one of whom had a wooden leg after being hurt in action. Chris Jenner echoed his sentiments, adding: "Does it matter if this is a national charity? I would be proud to say that Petersfield was doing its bit for the Royal Marines." And Clive Shore said: "I think this recommendation is utter nonsense and it makes me quite angry." He said many people in Petersfield would be attending the remembrance Day services and wreath-laying ceremonies on Sunday, adding: "I don't mind if this grant does set a precedent, there is a good reason for doing it. It is a national charity, but the important thing is that when the troops come back they are supported. "The lack of local support has been an issue and the effect on the morale of the troops is devastating. It is important for us to support our troops who are fighting abroad. "Petersfield is a naval town and we absolutely have to support this charity." But Bob Ayer told fellow councillors: "Don't talk conscience to me, I find it almost offensive. "I am a retired naval officer and a member of the Royal British Legion and that is one of the many wonderful national charities which looks after interests of servicemen." He said there was no better time for the people of Petersfield to show their concern for the troops than by buying a poppy for Remembrance Sunday. But he said he couldn't support Miss Pitt's application for a grant to pay for the Festival Hall hire. "This application was made late, and there was no justification for that," he said. "Very few members have actually seen the application. A precedent is made here – our Festival Hall is often used for charitable purposes and they pay the lower of the two rates for hire. Why should one charity be treated any differently from another?" "This was a tough call," added Mr Ayer, "but we really have only one option and this is to support the grants panel's recommendation." Hilary Ayer told the meeting she believed the best way to support members of the armed forces was on Remembrance Day. George Watkinson, chairman of the grants panel, stressed that the decision was made on guidelines set out by the town council, adding: "This is a national charity and it sets a precedent, but the one thing we did not know about was the name of a Petersfield recipient, we had no evidence of people in Petersfield having benefited from this charity." A compromise, proposed by Mr Jenner, to award a grant totalling half the cost of hiring the Rose Room and the Festival Hall (£251.65) was agreed. After the meeting, Miss Pitt said: "I thank the town council, it was a difficult one for them. I used to be on the grants panel when I served on the council and you do get a lot of requests for much more money than there is available to give, but I did feel I wanted to do something for our men and women at the front in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Equipment is lacking and they are having a tough time. Possibly because I have been through a war and seen terrible injuries, this has pushed me onward." Miss Pitt added: "Whether you agree with the war or not, they are our troops out there doing everything they are told to do and risking their lives and I feel we simply must support them." This week, Miss Pitt is still counting the proceeds of the concert but hopes to be able to donate around £4,000 to the Royal Marines.