COUNCILLORS this morning pressed on with a meeting in which the sale of River Park Leisure Centre in Winchester was confirmed.

Amid chaotic scenes, the start of the Cabinet meeting was delayed after around 40 people tried to get into the room at Winchester Guildhall.

Protesters from both within and outside the Walton room chanted "shame on you" when Lucille Thompson tried to start the meeting, and were threatened with expulsion from the building or arrest.

The police were called after a report that a Guildhall worker was barged into by those trying to gain access.

The Cabinet had been due to start the meeting at 9.30am but too many people wanted to attend, with the council allowing space for some '20 people'.

A spokesperson for the city council said they provided seating for everyone who had registered their interest to give representation three days in advance, as per policy, with extra provisions also made.

However, angered residents said those who hadn't booked were admitted into the room, and the council had deliberately provided limited seating to hold the meeting in "stealth".

Calls to transfer the meeting to a larger room were also soft-pedalled by council officers.

Members of the public were left outside the room and were told that if there was any disruption the police would be called. Some blocked the doors after learning of council plans to shut them out.

The start of the meeting was postponed and adjourned until after 10am while councillors attempted to persuade protestors to watch the meeting via video link in one of two 'overflow rooms'.

Some opponents of the sale of the centre to Southampton University were inside the meeting and due to speak because they had registered in advance with the committee clerk.

Councillor Sue Cook received applause from the room after she stood and demanded the meeting was adjourned, but her suggestions were batted away by Councillor Thompson.

Conservative group leader Cllr Caroline Horrill said: "It is an absolute disgrace that the public are unable to attend Cabinet this morning to observe the River Park discussion. They rightly feel democracy is being completely undermined by the high handed Liberal administration.

READ MORE HERE: Last-ditch call to stop sale of River Park Leisure Centre

"The poor officer team are in the firing line trying to explain to angry residents why they cannot come into the room."

Councillor Michael Kurn said: “This is a stark reminder for the administration that the people who put them there want to be heard. We are elected to serve this great district and it’s residents to make the best decisions for Winchester. A key part of that is making sure their voice is heard, respected and ideas are considered not just ignored like they were again today.”

One member of the public, Bill Hoade, said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous, the concern of the residents can be seen from the amount of people here. The fact that only 20 of them can go in there who may or may not represent the feelings of everybody out here is absolutely farcical.

"We should either be in there, or the meeting should be adjourned to a bigger room where it can take place properly. All through this the council has prevaricated. It has been stealthily pushed forward without giving us any coverage or right to object. It’s not democratic, and it shows where they are.”

Martin Wilson, a resident who did manage to get into the meeting, said: “Today is a show of the feeling from the citizens of Winchester against this cabinet who are doing things behind closed doors, which we just don’t like.

"We need transparency, we need them to be honest with the public, which is just not happening, so that’s why there is such an attendance today which seems to have taken them by surprise. It’s amazing that at a public meeting the police have been called.”

Opponents of the sale of the site to Southampton University were urged to attend in a leaflet drop this week by the campaign group Friends of River Park.

One supporter of the group, Kate Needham said: "Lots of people have turned up and we are asking the council to psostpone this item for the meeting to be held at a later date in a larger room in order to accommodaqte us. It is such an important issue.

"There ought to be a public consultation. This proves they are not listening. They are threatening to call the police but it is ordinary people wanting to attend the meeting that should be in a larger room."

Some residents have since dispersed while others have taken their place in the overflow room to watch the meeting, which did eventually commence almost 50 minutes later than scheduled.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: "We were called at 9.46am today, Wednesday, March 9, to a report of a public order incident outside the Guildhall in Winchester, involving a number of people. Officers attended and engaged with the group who then dispersed. No arrests were made."

The motion to agree the sale of River Park Leisure Centre was passed through by councillors.