A CONSERVATIVE member of Newport City Council has said he feels 'totally vindicated' after an allegation of misconduct against him and a fellow councillor made by two colleagues was withdrawn.

In August Labour members for Shaftesbury, Cllrs Paul Cockeram and Robert Poole accused representatives for Allt-yr-yn Cllrs Matthew Evans and David Fouweather of 'interfering' in matters outside of their own ward.

The row broke out following an article in the Argus in which the two Conservative members hit out at plans by Newport Transport to axe a bus service between Rogerstone, Allt-yr-yn and Brynglas.

Cllr Evans said the two Labour members had been concerned the article featured a photo of Cllr Evans taken in Brynglas.

“They said we had been writing personal letters to constituents who weren’t in our ward,” he said.

“The fact the picture was in another ward is neither here nor there – it was a service between Rogerstone, Allt-yr-yn and Brynglas so it affected us.”

But, in an email trail seen by the Argus, the council’s head of law and regulation Gareth Price said Cllrs Cockeram and Poole had now decided to withdraw their complaint.

Cllr Evans, who is running for office in next year’s Welsh Assembly elections, said he felt “totally vindicated”.

“There was no substance to the complaints at all,” he said.

“It’s a minor issue that’s been blown out of proportion.

“I’m sure officers have much better things they could be spending their time on.

“But the matter’s been closed now anyway. They haven’t even given us an apology.”

Cllr Poole said he and Cllr Cockeram had decided there was little to be gained by continuing with the complaint so decided to withdraw it.

“We thought about taking it to the council’s standards committee but they told us they wouldn’t do anything with it as it was too political,” he said.

“So we thought there wasn’t much point.”

The axed bus service has since been replaced with another on the same route operated by Cardiff-based New Adventure Travel.