AN OFFICIAL watchdog has accused Tywyn town councillors of “pursuing private vendettas” and not serving their community in a proper fashion.

The council has a history of bickering between various councillors and meetings have occasionally descended into petty feuds and squabbling.

In 2015/16, councillors have sent six complaints about each other to Nick Bennett, the public services ombudsman for Wales.

Mr Bennett has now dismissed all the complaints saying there was no evidence of breach of the code of conduct.

And he warned the councillors that they must “try to resolve any underlying animosity that may exist between them for the benefit of their community”.

Three of the complaints to the ombudsman related to a discusson in council in which Cllr Mike Stevens was accused of making “derogatory, discriminatory and ageist remarks” by Cllr Nancy Clarke – an accusation he strenuously denied.

Mr Bennett told the Cambrian News he had “little sympathy with vexatious code complaints”.

“Even at the most local level, elected members must remember that they are there to serve in the public interest and not to pursue private vendettas,” he added.

Councillors made no comments on the findings when the report was brought up for discussion at their monthly meeting on 13 April.

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News