A FORMER mayor of Bewdley has been rapped for swearing during a heated council meeting over a skatepark plan - but has refused to apologise.

Members of Bewdley Town Council agreed councillor Jeremy Ferguson had used "inappropriate terminology" during last year's meeting over the skate plan for Shaw Hedge Road.

Mr Ferguson had refused to apologise for his language after residents who opposed the plan lodged an official complaint to the town council.

The swearing was in reference to their complaints that youths had defecated into bushes by the proposed skate site.

He made the comments when the council's planning committee members met to give their views on the skate plan in November.

Mr Ferguson felt the words were "acceptable to the topic being discussed".

A statement agreed on by the council said: "Council feels that the terminology used was inappropriate and asks councillor Ferguson to use more appropriate terminology in future."

Mr Ferguson told the Shuttle/Times & News that he was "happy with the outcome".

He explained: "The words I used were not swearing, I don't think they are swear words.

"The council agreed that I hadn't used swear words, I had used terms that some people are not so comfortable with, even though they are in everyday usage. "

The complaint was also about an alleged four-letter word used by Mr Ferguson after a radio interview on BBC Hereford and Worcester about the skatepark plan.

Mr Ferguson believed he "may have spoken in an unsuitable manner after the radio interview" but had "immediately apologised and considered the incident finished with".

The council agreed that "no further action is needed" over this incident.

The resident who made the complaint, Brian Miles, said: "It is not something you expect from someone in his position, especially a champion for the youth of Bewdley."

The skate plan for three ramps and a shelter was given the final go-ahead by members of Wyre Forest District Council in January.