SPARKS were flying in a war of words between councillors over the Remembrance Day commemorations this week.

In a sniper attack from the Labour trenches, Cllr Sheila Denwood wrote to the Citizen drawing attention to the absence of the Green Party at the official Garden of Remembrance service on Sunday. But the Green's were quick to defend their actions and called on their critics to "Give peace a chance."

Said Cllr Denwood: "Many remarks were made to me about the absence of the Green Party councillors as Castle ward has the Westfield Memorial Village in its centre.

"I do realise that they might have been observers along with the many people paying their respects but I believe to attend as we the other councillors did, wearing our robes, brought the dignified respect that these time honoured dead deserve."

She added: "I understand their stance on the protection of rural England and their concerns over greenfield sites all over the United Kingdom but it is quite possible that if the circumstances of the wars had been reversed there might not have been any greenfields to protect. Sometimes, we and others should get our priorities in order and remember: There but for the grace of God go I"

But Green leader Jon Barry countered: "Members of the Green group reflected on Remembrance Day in their own way. Some visited war memorials whilst other paused for a few minutes at 11 o'clock to reflect on lost lives and the futility of war. We're all deeply committed to peace and, for example, held a peace vigil during the recent Kosovan war.

"We didn't complain that others were not there but simply got on with making sure that the sacrifices of all those who have been victims of this dreadful war-torn century are used positively to shape a better future."

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