A BAD-TEMPERED town hall meeting has voted to give the go-ahead to controversial plans for the removal of seats at a historic committee room.

Described by one senior councillor as the 'most vicious' he had heard in his time on the council, the debate ended with a 20-18 vote to keep a package of hi-tech changes to committee room A.

Conservatives accused the council's leadership of ignoring public opinion and concerns from heritage organisations while Labour accused Conservatives of playing politics and criticised the timing of the special discussion just two days before a scheduled council meeting.

For Labour, Cllrs David Owen and Fred Jackson accused the Conservatives of having a 'lamentable' record on preserving the town's heritage, citing the demolition of the Derby Baths and a plan from the 1970s which would have seen the demolition of the Grand Theatre.

"Don't try to pretend to the public that suddenly, for some reason you are converted to preserving the heritage of this town," said Cllr Jackson.

But Conservative Cllr Granville Heap praised the committee room seats as a 'jewel in the crown of this town hall' and added: "If they think we have made mistakes in the past, why are they now doing the same thing?"

Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr Robert Wynne, said: "A lot of people really appreciate these seats. I think sometimes councillors have to listen to public opinion and change their mind. If there is an interest in these seats let's take that on board, make it nicer but maintain it."

A meeting of the development control committee later the same day voted to pass the plans, which must now be approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.