The chairman of an association based at a Borehamwood community centre has hit back at allegations he was "aggressive" when barring two councillors from a meeting.
Frank Ward turned Councillors Pat Strack and Penny Swallow away from a Three Ways Community Association meeting at the council-owned Three Ways Community Centre, in Arundel Drive, in March.The pair represent Hertsmere Borough Council and Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council on the association's general management committee (GMC).But Mr Ward said the councillors were "not invited to the ad-hoc meeting" on March 3, where members discussed the agenda for a second meeting, which was held later that week.He said: "Both councillors were requested to leave, which they refused to do even when the GMC decided to close the centre and hold the meeting in another venue. "They only relented following consultation by telephone with the leader of the council."The meeting was then conducted following their departure from the centre and I was not aggressive as stated by Ms Swallow. "I was not prepared to be bullied and intimidated by two members of the council who were again flaunting their authority by claiming they could attend any meeting held by the association or the GMC."Last month, Ms Swallow told this newspaper that at an extraordinary general meeting four days later, Mr Ward had said the council "wanted to close the centre down".But he denied her claim and said: "I made no such statement regarding the policy or objectives of the council on the future of the centre during that meeting. "I stated that while I appreciated the concern being expressed by some members of the association I considered the rumours to be baseless and without foundation."
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