AN independent town councillor has come under fire for comments he made online about a controversial planning application and the flying of the Lancashire flag.

Cllr Jack Speight, who sits on Westhoughton Town Council, made comments about a proposed housing development in the town — as well as the flying of the red rose flag over the town hall on Lancashire Day.

The Bolton News understands that another councillor objected to his comments, resulting in the matter being brought before the council at meeting on Monday.

But members voted to exclude the press and public before the issue of Cllr Speight’s comments were discussed.

It is believed one aspect of the complaint came from a post on his website which suggested that Cllr Speight had been the only member of the town council to vote against plans to build 106 homes on land at Roscoe Farm when they first came to the council.

In another post on his own website, the independent councillor said he had “championed” the idea of flying the Lancashire flag over the town council on Lancashire Day — phrasing that is believed to have led to another complaint.

Cllr Speight said that his comments had been “misinterpreted”, partially because he is dyslexic.

He said: “Sometimes it feels like a personal attack but when you are the only independent councillor you are going to feel like the underdog.

“I said in the meeting last night I was more than willing to apologise and I don't think it needed to go any further.

“I have changed the website to read slightly differently and if they want me to change it again I will.”

He added: “The comments were in no way a personal attack on anyone — they have been taken out of context. They have made a mountain out of a molehill.”

The issue has now been referred to the council’s monitoring officer, who will decided whether Cllr Speight has fallen below the expected standards of the council.

He added: “I just have to wait and see now — it's just one of those things.

"I am proud of what I do and I really enjoy it and I will keep battling on — that's all you can do."

Explaining the decision to hold the discussion behind closed doors, Cllr Christopher Peacock said: “It was on the advice of the town clerk that we excluded the press and public from that part of the meeting.

"It was a complaint made to a councillor by another councillor about comments on a website and social media and it was advised to be dealt with between the councillors themselves instead of in the public domain so it could be dealt with appropriately."

Town clerk Christine Morris said: “The press and public were excluded because of the type of discussion and the fact that it was concerning Cllr Speight."

She said the power to do so came under the Local Government Act 1972, section 12A, which allows councils to hold discussions concerning "individuals" in secret, provided a public interest test is passed.