OUTRAGED residents have lodged an official complaint against a former mayor of Bewdley after he allegedly swore during heated debates about a skatepark plan for the town.

Residents of Shaw Hedge Road hit out at what they described as the "disgraceful conduct" of town councillor Jeremy Ferguson at a council meeting and after a radio interview and demanded he be "severely reprimanded".

The official complaint has been received by the town council and will be considered under its complaints procedure. Mr Ferguson, who was mayor during 2003-04 and instigated the skatepark project, is to respond in writing to the council.

The complaint arises from two debates over the controversial skatepark plan for Shaw Hedge Road, in Wribbenhall.

During a meeting of the council's planning committee, where members were meeting to decide whether to support the skate plan, Mr Ferguson swore twice when answering residents' fears that the plan would increase bad behaviour.

The same residents who have supported the complaint told members at the November 29 meeting that drunken youths had defecated into garden bushes and vandalised a nearby play area.

The complaint said "his choice of language was most inappropriate in front of committee members, members of the public, both male and female, and a young lad who was present with his mother".

Mr Ferguson is also alleged to have stormed out of the committee room, slamming the door, to have physically barged past a resident and left the building slamming every door as he left.

Mr Ferguson is alleged to have then used a four letter word - off air - after a debate on BBC Hereford and Worcester.

Resident, Brian Miles, who has written the letter on behalf of neighbours and took part in the radio interview, told the Shuttle/Times & News the word was used in "general conversation" in front of his partner.

He added: "I don't swear like that in front of women. I don't think it is right to use foul language like that."

Of the two incidents he said: "It is not the thing to do if you are a councillor. If you represent the people then you shouldn't go shouting your mouth off if things go wrong for you."

Mr Ferguson said he would not comment until he had submitted his official response.

l The skatepark plan will go ahead after being passed by Wyre Forest district councillors on Tuesday night.

For a report, see next week's paper.