Deputy mayor accused of homophobia

Ian McKirgan has been reported to the Standards Watchdog for England after labelling gay couples "defective" and "having a hormone imbalance that could be sorted out".

His outburst came as Crowborough Town Council discussed how to celebrate the town's centenary next year.

Crowborough is proud of its connections with a famous same-sex couple.

Every July it hosts a Sherlock Holmes Festival to commemorate Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - creator of Holmes and Dr Watson - who lived in the town from 1909.

It is not known what the author would have thought of Liberal Democrat town councillor Barry Coward's 35 suggestions for the celebrations, which included a Gay Pride festival.

However, his proposals were dismissed as inappropriate and unnecessary by Conservative councillor Paul Scott.

The row continued at the next meeting when Coun McKirgan asked for Coun Coward to be removed as chairman of the committee planning the celebrations, after accusing Tory councillors of "homophobia" on his web site.

Coun McKirgan called gay couples "defective" and said: "There is something wrong with these people and it is possibly something that could be cured.

"The very fact he was encouraging it to be exploited, where young people could be drawn in, is what I cannot believe.

"It is almost becoming a cult and I have great concern about it."

Coun McKirgan, who also serves as a Wealden district councillor, accepted he had made the statements but said they were being taken out of context. He refused to comment any further.

Town mayor Neil Waller suggested Coun Coward may have brought the centenary committee into disrepute with his internet allegations.

And tensions were stoked further when All Saints Church, given £30,000 by the town council to stage a Passion Play for next year's event, passed a motion 83 to 12 condemning same-sex relationships The motion prompted Liberal Democrat town councillor Peter Bucklitsch to question whether the council should withdraw the money.

All Saints vicar the Reverend Andrew Cornes said they had known nothing of the town council furore during the discussion.

He said: "It was a very peaceable meeting and I don't think there were homophobic statements.

"I would expect a majority would not be in favour of legitimising same-sex marriage but that's not homophobic, which means actively persecuting people."

Coun Waller said: "I think Crowborough probably has the same average number of intolerant and tolerant people as anywhere else."

He said the funding for the Passion Play would remain unless the council changed its mind.

Coun Coward, who is unsure whether he remains in charge of the celebrations, has received and accepted an apology from Coun McKirgan.

Coun Coward said: "He's entitled to say what he believes but he has to live with the consequences.

"I was just supporting gay people's right to have their say and role in the community.

"We're a very rural area and I think some people think they're still living in the 19th Century."