A former Pier trustee was embarrassingly kicked out of a meeting by his old colleagues - because of comments he made to the press.

Andy Newell was asked to leave the long-awaited extraordinary general meeting of the Pier Trust because the board had stripped him of his membership.

The decision was taken because the charity believes Mr Newell’s past comments to the press were bringing the Trust into disrepute.

The Trust says it broke no rules, but Mr Newell says he will contact the Charities Commission about what he sees as violations of the Trust’s constitution.

He says the Trust is no longer independently run because there are too many councillors on the board - currently Cllr Andrew Cook and Cllr Joe Howes.

He resigned from the board of trustees earlier this year in protest at its rejection of a £70 million pier marina project.

Mr Newell, of Gordon Road, said: “It is not independent any more. It is council run.

“They are making the rules up as they go along. Anything that was written down on paper has been thrown out the window.

“They have completely violated everything that was agreed about how the Trust was set up.

“Their idea is to rebuild the pier but they couldn’t build a sandcastle.”

Trust chairman Doreen Stone said: “You cannot have a trustee who keeps appearing in the papers, going at the company which he is a trustee of.

“Like a family, you have to sort your disagreements within.”

About 25 people attended the members-only meeting on Wednesday, July 10.

It was organised to elect two new trustees, David McCormick and Aileen Barker, meaning there are now six board members.

It also clarified rules in the trust’s constitution, the Articles of Association.

Mrs Stone added: “We have got new people on the board and marvellous volunteers.

“The councillors on the board are not party minded. They just love Herne Bay.

“I’m using the Articles now as my Bible and everything I have done has been in agreement with them.

“I feel sorry for Andy Newell because I get on with him well, but he can’t keep slagging us off.

“We are no longer a quarrelling trust. We have got members behind us.”