Police were called to a village meeting because a parishioner attempted to film councillors, it has emerged.
It is the latest controversy to hit Beyton Parish Council and is linked to an ongoing row over the presence of geese on the village green – dubbed “goosegate”.
Local parishioner Sandra Maynard claims the council’s policy of reintroducing geese to the green is “inhumane” because some are killed by dogs or in accidents.
She has recently attempted to film parish meetings when the issue was being discussed.
The council was forced to accept the filming of meetings due to a change of law in 2014, which led to three members resigning.
The latest unrest was at last week’s meeting, when Ms Maynard again attempted to film proceedings.
She claimed the position for filming provided by the council was unsuitable – so she filmed from elsewhere.
However, she said: “Someone just sat in front of me, obstructing the camera’s view.”
The proceedings were published to YouTube on Friday.
Ms Maynard has long argued that the geese are vulnerable to dog attacks and passing cars and would have inadequate shelter, with a previous 10 all ending up dead.
The parish council, following a poll of villagers which saw 78% support the reintroduction, bought 15 replacement geese for the village in the summer of 2014. Since then, the number has fallen to 12.
“It is embarrassing, calling the police, presumably to try and remove me. It is farcical. What a waste of police time,” said Ms Maynard.
Chairman Roger Wyartt last night refuted the allegation that it was a waste of time, saying it was in case the meeting “got out of hand”.
He said: “We now have to allow meetings to be filmed. We have been given guidelines from the Suffolk Association of Local Councils.
“It says the parish council chairman can set a designated filming area. She was not filming from the area we provided.
“I am quite a big fellow, I could have manhandled her out but that would have been a bigger headline than we are looking at now.
“The police were called, but when they arrived they were told that the situation had calmed down.”
The council does film its own meetings from a different position to that afforded to the public.
Both Ms Maynard and Mr Wyartt said they would consider sharing the footage, subject to acceptable conditions and full council approval.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here