A fight broke out at a Shropshire town council meeting, leaving a 67-year-old councillor needing hospital treatment.Councillor Tony Pound suffered grazing to his head, a swollen jaw and bruising and swelling to his neck in the fracas at a Ludlow Town Council meeting last night.
He was treated for his injuries in the accident and emergency department of Hereford Hospital.
The scuffle broke out at the end of a meeting of Ludlow Town Council’s markets, amenities and cemeteries committee and involved Councillor Pound and town clerk Paul Russell.
Councillor Pound today said he and town council officer Roy Guestford exchanged angry words before the fight broke out.
He said: “I had just had a go with Roy Guestford. Paul Russell was standing next to me.
“I saw his fist come towards me and I put my arm up to protect myself. His fist clattered into the side of my face, between my ear and my neck.
“Then he went for me. He was on top of me. I was under him trying to get away. I haven’t slept. I’m very shook up and very tired.”
It is understood Mr Russell, pictured below, disputes Councillor Pound’s version of events and says no punches were thrown. He is believed to be seeking professional advice following the matter. He was not available to talk to the Shropshire Star today despite repeated efforts by the newspaper.
Seven people were present in Ludlow Town Council’s chamber when the incident happened.
Those who witnessed the row were town council officers Mr Guestford and Hannah Coleman and Councillors Jim Newbold, Mickey Bradley and town mayor Mrs Marie Glaze.
Sergeant Simon Rees, of Ludlow Police, said today: “An allegation of assault has been made and we will be launching an inquiry very shortly.
“We’ll interview all of those who were present as part of our inquiry.”
The fracas lasted several minutes. The five witnesses tried to separate the pair. Councillor Mrs Glaze told Mr Russell he was being instantly dismissed although it is thought the mayor does not have the power to make such decisions.
She said: “It was a shocking incident. I have never seen anything of this nature before.
“It was very frightening and I was shaken up by it.
“I told Mr Russell he was fired. I’m going to pursue the matter with the district’s monitoring officer.”
Councillor Pound was taken to Ludlow Hospital and then to Tenbury Hospital.
An ambulance transferred him to Hereford’s accident and emergency department and he was discharged at about 2am.
Councillor Graeme Kidd, who attended the meeting, said: “I was not present when the incident occurred.
“However, it was a very nasty and brutish meeting, that was chaired by Councillor Pound.”
29 Comments
NEVER A DULL MOMENT AT LUDLOW COUNCIL MEETINGS , WORTH PAYING TO GO IN .
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What a circus! These people are meant to represent us! Brawling at a council meeting what an example: look kids at those up standing members of the community, if you work hard maybe you’ll be able to become a councillor and be able to fight in council meeting! Disgraceful!
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It is like a television soap, I do not know why it happened or who was at fault, but the person who stated the physical side of it should be prosecuted. In addition
If it is the clerk - Removed, in any company physical assault is a severe disciplinary offence.
If it was the councillor, he should be requested to resign, if he does not there is the Standards Baord etc.
To do nothing, will show this sort of behaviour in our elected body to be acceptable
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Oh dear. It’s time for Whitchurch Town Council to look to their laurels as Shropshire’s most dysfunctional local authority!
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Who’d have thought that markets amenities and cemeteries could provoke such excitement?!
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nice reporting there, guilty until proven innocent.
mr russell says no punches were thrown.
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Immediate dismissal for those involved in the work place
Lets see what happens?
No shocks here?
Nothing
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Well, Mr RUSSELL would say that, wouldn’t he John!!!!!
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Hmm
Looks like a staged photo opportunity if ever I saw one!
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Thats more like it. if people were more passionate about issues like these guys then maybe things would change in our communities
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It’s far better than Shakespeare in the Castle!!
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another witness backs up Mr Russell’s version of events.
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I have to say that I am ashamed to admit that I live in Ludlow!
Mr Pound must have been hit so hard that he couldn’t get out of bed until the Shropshire Star photographer called!
I am looking forward to the next instalment of “Ludlow Town Council-Yes we spend your council tax” It’s better then Eastenders except this is real life D’oh
What can we expect next then after the Mayoral row and this fiasco? Do-nuts at dawn?
My 11 year old son is more responsible than these people that spend our council tax!
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Fire the lot and start again they are dragging down Ludlow, “ Food Capital”, “fight Capital” more like. Its sick grown men acting like animals.
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Are these the same councillors who stuff their pockets with taxpayers money while condemning the BNP’s councillors, who incidentally never descend to this level of infantile behaviour?
You get what you vote for.
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Oh so presumably Mr Pound just bumped his head on a cupboard door then did he!!!
Come on Folks, don’t make me laugh !!!
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So Pound got a pounding did he? He doesnt look that injured on the photo, or is it a trick of the light?
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i agree with blueyes he dosen’t look like he’s been in a punch up to me . he looks quite relaxed in his bed.
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Well Neil, if Mr Pound HAD bumped his head on a cupboard door, he would at least have a bruise!! If ever I saw a posed photo then this is it!!!
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Excuse me as im confused
Wheres the bruising?? even if it was a cupboard door as neil suggests surely that would have left a mark.
Oh I get it, more attention to put a council that was running smoothly into disrepute.
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the truth will out…if there’s any justice …oh but there isn’t really is there?
so, just more of the same then and nothing will ever change, be improved
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get rid of the lot of the council and start again and why is it that petty cash has gone up?
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The Town Council ice skating trip didn’t go quite to plan either…
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=N1-25s4uwFQ
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Whatever next? Demolition of the Broadgate to get the buses through?
Drink is a huge problem in this town - had any of these representatives of Ludlow perhaps been supping in the Church Inn beforehand?
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Who alerted the press? And to what ends?
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A wonderful advert for Ludlow. Same old ego’s boiling over. This is the reason it has taken the best part of 20 years to build a skatepark for the local kids. Well done boys…..
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so now the mayor calls an emergency meeting for friday and tells the newspaper she doesnt know whats it about doest she read the papers so the farce continues a television deal must be near.
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so a councillor gets himself up from sitting on the pavement where he plays a penny whistle for what ever reason, goes into the chamber and insists on taking his pet dog with him. You could`nt make it up.Even the writers of`green green grass` and `Vicar of Dibley` would find it difficult to match it. It would be really funny until we realise that these people are going to handle possibly millions of pounds of our money.
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Do you really think a man that had been attacked by a 6′2″ ex-merchant navy seaman, would be sitting in bed unmarked?
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