A PARISH councillor has blasted his council for not fully supporting a funding request by a business group in Odiham.

The Odiham Town Management Group (OTMG), set up in 2001 to promote business in the village, applied for a £600 grant to pay for a steel band at the Odiham Food Festival later this year.

But at a recent Odiham Parish Council meeting, councillors instead voted for a £400 grant for the event.

Four councillors - all members of the OTMG - declared a prejudicial interest in the application and did not take part in the debate or vote over the cash.

But speaking after the debate, Councillor Roger Jones, who is a director on the OTMG, criticised the council's decision.

Cllr Jones said: "At the risk of offending the remaining friends that I now have in Odiham, it horrifies me the way in which this council nit-picks at something that is fundamentally at the heart of the regeneration of Odiham.

"Is that because this council does not wish to have the regeneration of Odiham, or is it based on personal enmities?

He added: "Can I appeal to all members of this council to try and work with OTMG instead of against it?"

Cllr Simon Quarrell, chairman of the parish council, asked Cllr Jones to put the matter on the agenda of a future meeting if he wanted the council to discuss it further.

Speaking to The Gazette on Tuesday, Cllr Quarrell declined to comment on Cllr Jones' outburst, but said: "Obviously, this is a matter that needs to be resolved.

"At the moment, the relationship between the OTMG and the parish council is being reviewed."

The Odiham Food Festival, to be held on August 25, in High Street, will feature food stalls run by farmers and restaurants from the village.