FOUR members of Whiteley Parish Council are facing a maximum five-year ban from public office after a local government watchdog decided to investigate them over the controversial scrapping of a skateboard park.

Officers from the Standards Board for England have launched a probe after deciding complaints made against members of the parish council were serious enough to warrant further investigation.

The members all voted to overturn a decision to build a skatepark on Gull Coppice playing fields, next to the Meadowside Centre, despite backing from youngsters.

An extraordinary meeting was called to review the scheme when

it was claimed new information had come to light.

With homes close to the proposed development, the opposing councillors had been warned by their clerk that they might have a prejudicial interest in the plans but failed to declare it.

Parish council chairman Councillor Ron Finlay is facing three allegations of breaking the code of conduct.

His parish council colleagues Cllr Mike Anthony, Cllr Kate Chapman and Cllr John Hall face two allegations each.

Cllr Finlay didn't wish to comment while the investigation was continuing, but he did promise parish council business would continue as normal. He said: "There's no restriction on anybody participating. No charges have been proven."

Whiteley mother of two Elizabeth Hobson and two parish council colleagues including Cllr Pat Wright took the decision to report the councillors.

Cllr Wright said: "We've got to let the investigation take its course. They've been reported.

"We will have to abide by the decision and so will they."

Spokesman Rebecca Jones, for the Standards Board for England, confirmed investigations had commenced into all four members.

She also explained three allegations against parish council vice-chairman Kevin Gristock were dropped because they were not significant enough to justify investigating with public funds.

A further allegation against Cllr Finlay didn't constitute a breach of the code of conduct.

Two more allegations apiece against councillors Anthony, Chapman and Hall have also been dropped. The investigation should take six months.