A WARD councillor was ordered to apologise - or be banned from speaking at planning meetings.

Coun Yvonne Creswell had wanted to speak on an item considered by Bury's planning control committee.

But the Tory member for Elton ward was told she would first have to say sorry for comments made at an earlier meeting.

Acting chairman, Coun Alan Matthews, said that her behaviour at a planning meeting in October last year was "disgusting".

A complaint to the Standards Board For England alleged that she and fellow member Denise Bigg had "harangued" the committee and incited members of the public to do the same.

In December, the matter was deemed "not of such significance to justify investigation".

However, Coun Matthews said the planning committee had reached its own decision that she should not speak.

He said: "The committee is due an apology for the disgusting way that we have been treated.

"The decision has been made."

Conservative councillor Sam Cohen disagreed.

He said: "You're denying constituents the chance to have a case put on their behalf.

"It's the wrong decision."

Following the meeting, Coun Creswell - who did not give an apology - said: "I don't know where this is coming from, but I thought that it was very embarrassing in front of members of the public.

"I just think it's silly to carry this argument on. For goodness sake, let's work on behalf of the people that we're trying to represent."

But Coun Matthews said: "I was following the orders of the committee and, until there is an apology from Coun Creswell, she will not be allowed to speak at planning meetings."

Coun Creswell had been hoping to speak against plans for council-maintained land on Cromer Road, Brandlesholme, to be adopted and incorporated into a private garden.

The application was refused on the grounds that it would be detrimental to public amenity.