A veteran north-east councillor is being investigated over allegations of hectoring and bullying at a public meeting.
Ian Tait, who has represented Fraserburgh for nearly 30 years, is accused of causing a ruckus at tourism group talks which forced organisers to shut down proceedings.
The allegations, made by Mike Chandler of the recently formed Fraserburgh Area Tourism Group, are now being probed by the Standards Commission.
Last night, Mr Tait rejected the claims as “spurious and vindictive”.
The war of words was triggered by a local hot-potato issue, VisitScotland’s plans to move Fraserburgh’s visitor information centre out of the town centre.
Proposals to shift the office into the local Museum of Scottish Lighthouses has split the community.
In his complaint to the Standards Commission, Mr Chandler said Mr Tait showed a “complete lack of respect” for members of the public and VisitScotland officers during a meeting of the tourism group in August.
He said Mr Tait was warned several times about interrupting people who spoke in favour of Visit- Scotland’s bid to move the information centre.
Mr Chandler said: “The last straw came when he started to bully the Visit- Scotland representatives into making a decision to delay the move to the lighthouse museum.
“He kept on pressing them in aggressive tones. He was speaking directly at them, not through the chair or to the meeting as a whole.”
Mr Chandler said, as chairman, he asked Mr Tait to stop speaking several times.
He said: “I warned him twice that if he failed to do so, I would have to close the meeting.
“At no stage did he let up from his hectoring of Visit- Scotland representatives. I therefore had no option other than to close the meeting.”
He said that some of the people at the talks were “so appalled” by Mr Tait’s behaviour, they apologised to VisitScotland staff.
Last night, Mr Tait countered Mr Chandler’s claims.
“He kept interrupting and badgering those against moving the centre,” he said. “On the other hand, he let those speaking up to support the move speak for as long as they liked.
“When I tried to speak to the VisitScotland officials against moving the centre, he told me to stop.
“It was important that these officials were informed that the community was against the move and so I continued. But he constantly interrupted me and began to shout, eventually he was howling his head off, telling me to stop talking to the officials.”
Mr Tait said: “I have never seen such appalling behaviour from any chairman in all my time as a councillor.”