A MEMBER of the public has said he has been left 'disillusi -oned' after a row broke out at a previous Louth Town Council meeting over Hubbards Hills toilets.

At their latest meeting Robert Waller told town councillors he has no confidence that the issues surrounding Hubbards Hills public toilet would be resolved.

This followed a statement given by Hubbards Hills Trust chairman Councillor Andrew Leonard at a town council meeting on August 10.

As reported, a row erupted at the meeting when Mr Leonard made a statement about the tapered grant being offered by East Lindsey District Council for the trust to take on the toilets.

Mr Leonard received permission from the town council to remain in the chairman's seat when giving the statement.

At Tuesday's meeting Mr Waller said: "I felt this was handled very badly by the chairman who did not stand down then read out a statement on behalf of Hubbards Hills Trust which had nothing to do with this council. Why wasn't the statement in the public forum?

"It was highly emotive and disrespectful of the council and I question some of the facts given.

"Nothing I heard gave me any confidence that this problem will be sorted out immediately. I believe the chairman should have stood aside and handed over to someone with no connection to Hubbards Hills Trust. I also question other members of the trust who are councillors who neither spoke out on the statement. It all left me disillusioned.

"Local democracy was not seen at its best and the conduct was not what is expected from councillors."

Following the meeting, Mr Leonard said: "The community should be reassured the Hubbards Hills Trust only wishes to obtain the very best deal for the ratepayers of Louth and the users of Hubbards Hills, having been placed in this unexpected position in the middle of a financial year when funds have already been allocated.

"The district council's costings kept changing and it took a great deal of volunteer time and effort to establish clarity over the variants on the figures and I was simply updating councillors who were not aware of the financial breakdown.

"Mr Waller suggests that the information given was not correct but if he wishes to contact the trust, it will be happy to endorse the facts supplied on the evening. As outlined on the evening, I was addressing the council in my role as chairman of Hubbards Hills Ltd and not as a councillor which may have caused Mr Waller's concerns. Under the management agreement, the chairman is obliged to report back when necessary."