THE row over the new £750,000 Wye Valley cycle path continues to rage after teenager Tom Edwards accused Tidenham Parish Council of being undemocratic.

The Wyedean Sixth Form student was unhappy with the council's conduct during a heated debate on the cycleway at October's full council meeting.

Tom said he had not been allowed a proper say because of his age and the public were asked to leave the meeting before questions were properly answered.

He said: "Before I even asked a question I was told by the parish clerk that it was probably best to let the adults speak first.

"Then when I did get to speak they didn't give me a proper answer.

"It made me question whether they are a fair and democratic council."

The parish council has objected to the new Tidenham to Tintern cycleway on a number of grounds including lack of parking nearby, a feared increase in anti-social behaviour and concern over potentially having to pick up the bill for its upkeep.

Tom attended the meeting with his friend Frances Hamilton to find out how the council works and to ask why under-18s hadn't been asked their opinion on the cycle path.

He said: "I think to be democratic they have to ask under 18s because the cycle path will be most used by that age group."

In addition to Tom's views there has been further criticism of the council's handling of the cycle path from within the council itself.

Parish councillor Lance Allan has publicly stated that he feels that the council's fears that the cycleway may cost the parish £40,000 in maintenance was way off the mark.

He said: "I think the council's reaction is ill-considered and could be considered scare-mongering."

But these comments have landed Coun Allan in hot water after he was reported to the Forest of Dean District Council Standards Committee for bringing the council into disrepute.

However, he says he sticks by his comments and is considering what action to take.

Meanwhile another parish councillor who did not wish to be named said he strongly refuted the claims made by Tom Edwards. He said the youngster had been given an opportunity to speak and that the public had only been dismissed from the meeting when the council moved into exempt business.

The cycle path, which follows the old Wye Valley railway line has been funded by cycle charity Sustrans. The planning application could be heard at the November meeting of the Forest of Dean District Council.