LAST year's protest by four Lib/Dem councillors at the annual Test Valley Borough Council mayor-making in Romsey is threatening to cast a shadow over this year's ceremony.

The Conservative group has turned down a request that a Lib/Dem councillor should be nominated for the position of deputy mayor.

The Lib/Dems are furious - but council leader Ian Carr said they could not expect to win a nomination if they did not respect the institution of mayor.

The wrangle started after an official approach from Lib/Dem leader Robin Hughes who asked that Romsey member Dorothy Baverstock be considered.

Cllr Steve Cosier, ward member for North Baddesley, said the reason for the Conservatives' rejection was based on his actions at last year's official ceremony in Romsey's Crossfield Hall.

Mr Cosier, and other Baddesley members, were involved in a sit-down protest over the appointment of the mayor, deputy-mayor and vice-chair of the council's southern area planning committee.

Mr Cosier said: "Cllr Carr, and the entire Conservative group, are allowing their own prejudices, and an unhealthy obsession with me to cloud their judgement."

And he added: "Mrs Baverstock has been a borough councillor since 2003, a Romsey town mayor, and deputy head at Romsey Secondary School."

Mr Carr said this week: "I think it's incredible. If you don't respect it how can you expect to have it?

"And I haven't seen a change of attitude over the year. There have been several occasions when Mr Cosier hasn't stood up when the mayor has come in."

Asked whether he thought the whole Lib Dem group was being penalised for the actions of a few, he said: "There's only 10 of them and of those four didn't stand up. I haven't seen any sign of regret from the group."