AN investigation into the conduct of Tory district councillors over a controversial planning application for the former Marlbrook tip has been called for by the leader of the opposition Labour group.

Bromsgrove district councillor, Peter McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley), was spurred into action after Tory councillors on the authority's planning committee unanimously voted against an application by Liberty Construction for improvement works at the Alvechurch Highway site.

The angry councillor believes a whip, when members are told by the party leadership to vote a certain way, was put on Conservative members telling them to refuse the application to instal a new drain culvert, perimeter bunding, and balancing ponds.

Cllr McDonald told the Advertiser/Messenger he had written to Bromsgrove District Council's monitoring officer, Vince Harrison, calling for an investigation into whether a whip was put on Conservative members when they made their decision on December 17.

He says that under the new modernisation of council rules, a whip must be announced at the beginning of a meeting which he says was not done.

He added: "As every Tory member voted against it, I have reason to believe the whip may have been put on."

Liberty boss Eddy Mcintosh, who submitted the application in December 2000, eventually hopes to turn the site into a golf course.

He is currently taking legal advice on his next step, which could be a possible appeal against the decision.

But Tory council leader, Cllr Nick Psirides (Norton), said the whip only has to be declared at the start of scrutiny committees and did not apply to other meetings.