EX-NEWENT mayor Len Lawton has accused colleagues of trying to gag him, for asking too many questions about a land deal.

The councillor is also refusing to abide by a ruling which stops members of Newent Town Council tweeting from meetings.

Councillor Lawton questioned why the town council wants to buy the land at the back of the library from Gloucestershire County Council for just £1.

Mayor Roger Beard says there are no sinister motives – and the council has not decided what to do with the land when the deal goes through.

But councillor Lawton fears it could be built on, or used as a ransom strip for a plot at the back of the Chill Out Zone.

For the full story read The Forester.