TWO councillors who spoke out against controversial moves to hold Town Hall meetings in secret have had a party suspension overturned.

Former Labour group leader, and Blackburn with Darwen mayor, Peter Greenwood and fellow councillor Don Rishton voted against the plan last March. The defiant act at the full council meeting earned both councillors a three-month suspension from the ruling Labour group.

At the time, Labour councillor Stephen Greenwood, no relation, urged his colleagues not to vote against the system.

He sent all Labour members an e-mail labelling people scabs if they voted against the proposals.

The suspension meant they were banned from party meetings and were kept apart from other councillors.

Both appealed against the suspension and two weeks ago they were told their appeals had been upheld by the North West Regional Labour Party. The two, long-established councillors were both opposed to moves which saw a radical shake-up in the running of Blackburn with Darwen Council. A cabinet-style system replaced the old committee structure in May, but concern was raised about holding council meetings in private.

The plans sparked a public outcry and, as a result, council leaders staged a U-turn and now admit members of the press and public to meetings.

Peter Greenwood and Don Rishton appealed against the punishment and both were upheld on technical grounds.

Councillor Greenwood said: "I was unhappy with the secrecy element of the new system and voted against it on a point of principle.

"I was told I had broken the whip and was immediately suspended from the group, but the problem was they broke the party regulations.

"They used the suspension as a big stick to beat me with, but it was never going to be upheld at regional level."

Councillor Rishton said: "This is a very important issue not just locally but nationally.

"Local government democracy is very important and should be protected at all costs."

John Milburn, the Blackburn Labour Party whip, said the two councillors appealed, but before the appeal was heard the regional Labour Party said the regulations had been breached, and pointed out that "we had not followed the correct regulations".