A COUNCILLOR has apologised over an “inappropriate” tweet which suggested that the decision to refuse plans for an Aldi in Stroud may have been corrupt.

Cllr Chas Townley, (Lab, Uplands) was given a formal warning about his conduct by the Labour group following the tweet in the wake of the decision by Stroud District Council’s development control committee to reject the application for the supermarket at the Bath Road Trading Estate.

In the tweet, which has now been deleted, Cllr Townley said he was ‘astonished’ by the decision.

He added: “Wasn’t decided on merits. Has the whiff of folding stuff/favouring other developers.”

Members of the development control committee voted against officers’ advice by six to four to reject the Aldi over fears that it would harm trade in town centres and lead to a loss of skilled jobs.

Cllr Townley has withdrawn the allegation and apologised to the Labour group and development control committee.

In a letter to the committee, he said: “I am writing to every member of the committee to personally apologise for the tweet I posted on 29 November, 2016 about the committee’s decision concerning the planning application for a supermarket at the former BP Chemical works at Bath Road, Stroud.

“I fully accept that the tone and content was inappropriate and went way beyond what was reasonable for me to say.

"I would also like to make clear that I fully regret and withdraw the imputation of corruption or malfeasance in the committee’s deliberations on this or any application.

“I would also like to apologise for any hurt or distress my action has caused you.”

Leader of SDC Steve Lydon said: "He was formally admonished by Stroud District Council Labour group executive.

"He has written  a formal apology, completely withdrawing any allegations and apologising for any offence to the Development Control Committee.

“He has already verbally apologised to all the Labour group. He has been given a formal warning about his conduct."