WAVERLEY councillors rubber stamped a move to de-list Brightwell House this week, despite objections from town councillors It was also a week when the Brightwell battle became more heated, with strong words being exchanged.

Members of Waverley's ruling executive committee voted through a recommendation from a previous committee to seek the de-listing of the building that adjoins the defunct Redgrave Theatre, so that developers have the option of demolishing the two buildings if they wish.

But last week Farnham Town Council, while supporting the progression of the redevelopment of East Street, voted against de-listing.

The final decision now rests with the Department of the Environment and the process is expected to take about six months.

After 90 minutes of heated debate at last Thursday's full town council meeting members had to vote for or against the East Street plans.

Duncan Steel (Liberal Democrat, Farnham Castle Ward) proposed an amendment stating the town council feels moves towards de-listing are "unnecessary and premature".

With the vote split six-all, it was down to council chairman and deputy mayor Penny Marriot (Liberal Democrat, Farnham Waverley) to have the casting vote. She voted for the amendment.

The town council's de-listing objection brought an angry response from town and borough councillor Captain Peter Burden.

The Conservative councillor for Farnham Bourne ward heads Waverley's East Street regeneration group and has led calls for the de-listing, arguing it would leave an "unencumbered site" for developers.

He incurred the anger of about 20 members of the New Farnham Repertory Company in the public gallery when he asked them to be quiet. One member, Malcolm Rennie, storming off in disgust.

Capt Burden also accused Liberal Democrat town councillor Vic Scrivens of not reporting East Street regeneration news back to the town council - Mr Scrivens is the liaison between the two councils.

Finally, he claimed the vote against de-listing was politically motivated, with Lib Dems voting against a move started by Tory-controlled Waverley council.

"I'm horrified this has degenerated into a party political issue," he said.

"This is just point scoring. You may be in charge here, but you're not elsewhere," he told the Lib Dem-controlled town council, before continuing: "Can't the audience be quiet? You're here to listen."

Responding to Captain Burden's claims that he has not reported East Street news back to the town council, Mr Scrivens said: "I don't know what he's talking about."

The town clerk, Pat Evans, said Mr Scrivens had no brief to report to the town council.

"He represents the town council on the special interest group and what a representative should do means different things to different people but he had no brief to report back to the council."

After the meeting, fellow Lib Dem Duncan Steel defended Mr Scrivens, saying he was prevented from discussing East Street with the town council because the Waverley Special Interest Group meetings are private and confidential.

He said Captain Burden's attack was "distinctly unfair".

And Captain Burden came in for more criticism after this week's decision by Waverley to pursue the de-listing.

Vice-chairman of the executive committee that voted it through, he was labelled a "philistine" by New Farnham Repertory Company member Hannah Williams, who was one of many NFRC members in the public gallery.

"The thing that really surprised me was the fact that Farnham Town Council objected to the de-listing was hardly mentioned, and I thought: 'Why does Farnham Town Council bother to vote if Waverley dismisses it?'"