THE 'Freedom of Chepstow' has been granted to locally based army regiment, 1 Rifles.

Following last week's extraordinary meeting of Chepstow Town Council, a motion to grant the freedom of the town to The 1 Rifles, was put forward by town mayor Cllr Marian Lewis.

However the proposal wasn't without criticism from some councillors and the public after a number of incidents in the town involving soldiers from the regiment, which is based at Beachley Barracks.

In one incident police were called upon to investigate reports that soldiers stripped naked and urinated in a Chepstow pub on Remembrance Sunday and a month later soldiers were involved in a fight at the Mythos Mezze Bar in the town.

Ken Davies from the Royal Naval Association told councillors: "The association and the Royal British Legion Chepstow Branch are in favour of giving the soldiers the freedom of the town. I am sure the misbehaviour of a few should not ruin this opportunity for the rest of the regiment."

Cllr Stephanie Dovey agreed and said: "We should not punish the whole regiment for the sake of a few soldiers."

She added: "We have the soldiers and their families living amongst us and these servicemen and women are fighting for us in Afghanistan and its our way of rewarding them collectively for doing their bit for all of us.

Cllr David Dovey informed members that the regiment had already disciplined those who had been involved in the incidents within the town.

But Gethyn Davies questioned members: "The Rifles have not been in Chepstow five minutes and yet the council is offering the regiment the freedom of the town. What have they done to deserve this prestigious honour?

He added: "I am sure they have not done anything to benefit the local community and I think the proposal is 100 per cent wrong."

Christopher Wilson, a former president of the Chepstow branches of the Royal Naval Association and Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association said: "I personally feel that to bestow the freedom of the town to our locally based army unit is a wonderful opportunity having seen the soldiers' homecoming.

"It was clear from this event that the town obviously appreciates the effort that the regiment puts in overseas and bestowing the freedom is one of the few things that Chepstow can give the soldiers as a unit."

Cllr Hilary Beach said: "I feel quite strongly that we should be rewarding soldiers' bad behaviour by granting them with the Freedom of Chepstow. Its totally inappropriate and I disagree completely."

Cllr Henry Ashby requested that the council should defer their decision until a later date when the issue was not so contentious. He later withdrew his request.

After a heated hour-long discussion the proposal was eventually approved with nine councillors voting for the proposals, one against with two councillors abstaining.

Cllr Lewis hoped that the ceremony could take place shortly as the Rifles were preparing to return to Afghanistan, for a third tour in the spring.

When told of the decision, the Commanding Officer of 1 Rifles Regiment Lieutenant Colonel James de la Billière said he was delighted. It was pleasing and touching that the regiment should receive such an honour so close to their deployment to Afghanistan.

•This would be the fourth time the Rifles, a battalion created from a number of historic regiments in 2007, has gained the freedom of various towns and areas associated with the unit. The soldiers have already been granted the freedom of Bourne­mouth, Forest of Dean district and Gloucestershire.

Freedom means The Rifles have the right to march through Chepstow with bayonets fixed and with their colours flying.