COUNCILLORS have continued to share their disgust after a meeting ended with councillors swearing at each other and the mayor walking out.

As previously reported, Andover Town Council met on Wednesday, January 24, to go through a 24-point agenda but tensions rose, and several councillors ended up in heated exchanges over a mockumentary that has been published.

The meeting came to a head around an hour and 45 minutes in, when Cllr Richard Kidd told Cllr Mark Farren to “shut the f*** up” following a debate between Cllr Farren and Cllr Kevin Hughes, about council processes.

As the bickering continued Andover's Mayor, Cllr Robin Hughes walked out.

Andover Advertiser: Cllr Jason Sangster and Cllr Katherine Bird

READ MORE: Andover's Mayor has no regrets after chaotic council meeting

Since then councillors have been sharing their shock with the Advertiser, with a reporter being present at the meeting. 

Cllr Jason Sangster said he felt disappointed and disheartened after the meeting.

He said: "I appreciate the main point of discussion was a controversial topic and people from all sides, having strong feelings on the matter and whilst genuinely important points were raised by both internally within in the council and externally by members of the public, I believe the matter was conducted in the wrong way and that people were too quick to jump on the negative toxic bang wagon.

He continued: "People are too quick to say, ‘I’m right, you’re wrong, I don’t like it, now say sorry to me’ and this is not how a healthy community or society conducts itself. I now appreciate that there was perhaps a procedural issue in our process or policies, and we can recognize and look to learn from these when moving forwards, but this was not done with any malice but with the best intentions and an ironic love for the town."

"We are all people and people make mistakes, it’s how we deal with mistakes that sets us apart and as a council I feel we have learnt from this (and many other situations), will grow from it and adapt to move forwards for the betterment of our town."

Meanwhile Cllr Katherine Bird said that council’s policies and procedures must be robust and clear.

SEE ALSO: Disgust as Andover Town Council meeting descending into chaos

Shew said: "The heated debate was about a video which effectively had nothing to do with the council.

"I explicitly suggested that video was not published. It was never the intention of the project to hurt anyone. Certainly, such a work would attract awful lot of attention from the public. As a town council, I think it is important that its produces positive messages about the town, its partners and people."

A council spokesperson has since apologised about the "unacceptable" behaviour and said councillors will be asked to reflect on how they can improve their conduct.

Training sessions have also been arranged for the near future.