A SPAT between representatives of two villages has been described as "the Rowling phenomenon."

Tidenham parish councillors split into two camps over a suggestion that the council alternates its meetings between Tutshill and Sedbury.

It was defeated leading to one councillor later describing it as "the Rowling phenomenon" – a reference to the author's last novel – A Casual Vacancy – about an "us and them" split on a parish council.

When the book was released last year locals were quick to deny that it could be based on Tutshill and Sedbury and the parish council insisted there was no "us and them".

But that is not how it is seems to some after the proposal to alternate between Tutshill War Memorial Hall and the Sedbury and Beachley Village Hall was defeated by six votes to three.

Speaking to the News after the meeting, a councillor said: "It's the Rowling phenomenon. It's a definite case of us and them.

"Unless there is a change of mind in six months' time (the next time it can be discussed) the residents of Sedbury will have to continue to travel to Tutshill to attend their parish council meetings."

The motion was originally tabled by Councillor Steve Ford, the chair of the Sedbury and Beachley Village Hall Committee, who suggested the monthly meeting of the full council should be alternated between the two halls.

He was unable to be at the meeting and the motion was put by Councillor Bernard Bowshall who immediately upped the ante by calling for all meetings to be alternated.

He said: "There is no reason why we should not have all our meetings for the month at one and then the following month at the other."

Opponents felt that could be "confusing" and called on tradition to back up their claim that meetings should continue at the War Memorial hall alone.

Councillor Lance Allen said: "I've been on the council for more than 20 years and we have always met here and I don't see the need to change it."