TEMPERS flared at a Haslemere Town Council meeting last week when two councillors were locked in a war or words over a tree-planting scheme.
The row broke out when town councillor Mark Lelliott included his name along with those of town clerk Mike O'Neil and a town council email address on an open letter to the residents of Cherry Tree Avenue.
They were sent to householders asking them for their views on an "adopt-a-tree" plan as a way of replacing diseased and dying cherry trees in the road.
The letters also asked if residents would be prepared to contribute towards the cost and provide some TLC for new trees.
But at last Thursday's meeting, chairman of the council's highways and planning committee Michael Foster accused Mr Lelliott of "self promotion" and attacked him for "taking credit" for the town council's plans to replant trees.
An infuriated Mr Lelliott, who represents Shottermill and lives in Cherry Tree Avenue snapped back: "I have certainly not made a promotional exercise out of this.
"My name was simply on the bottom the form so that residents in the avenue would be able to return their replies more easily and without having to pay for postage."
Mr Foster, who had approved the original draft without Mr Lelliott's name on it, and had offered to help him hand-deliver the letters, reported: "There was no reason whatsoever why Mr Lelliott's name should have been on those letters."
The final copies of the letters, printed on Haslemere Town Council headed notepaper, with the town crest on the left hand side and a picture of tree on the other, were delivered to residents last month, but without Mr Foster's help.
Mayor Michael Barnes also found himself embroiled in the argument, criticising Mr Lelliott for the amount of time he had spent drafting the letter.
He said that the decision to send the letter was made by the whole committee.
"Any letter from the council should have the mayor's name on it and the town clerk's. And it should not be used for personal promotion."
Bringing some rationality to the ill-tempered debate, James Mackie said: "I do not want to see the matter turn into a storm in a tea cup."
But on Friday when feelings were still running high, Mr Lelliott told The Herald that Mr Foster had received a faxed copy of the letter that was distributed.
"He spoke to me on Tuesday before the meeting on some minor details about the letter but raised none of the points he made at the meeting.
"Mr Foster's comments at the meeting on Thursday," he said, " came out of the blue."
"I think that a silly political issue is one thing but to impugn my character is an extremely serious matter," said Mr Lelliott.
And Mr Foster reiterated that the final letter on town council headed paper was distributed before being agreed by him.