SALISBURY City Council’s attempts to take over a neighbouring parish have been compared to Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

The bid to make Laverstock and Ford part of the city was likened to Adolf Hitler annexing Austria and Czechoslovakia.

Alan Hotchkiss of Milford Preservation Group made the remarks at a public meeting at Wyvern College, where more than 180 parishioners turned out to hear debate on the boundary review.

The proposed changes could spell the end for Laverstock and Ford Parish Council (LFPC) and a £100 hike to Laverstock residents’ annual council tax bills.

Mr Hotchkiss told the “rather bad tempered” meeting about a “recurring nightmare” in which SCC leader Andrew Roberts advances down Church Road and Pearce Way in a Panzer tank.

Speaking after “one of the least good-natured meetings I have ever been to”, Cllr Roberts said the “hot-headed” comments were distasteful, unnecessary and wholly inappropriate.

When LFPC councillor Derek Hayes accused SCC of going after LFPC’s money, SCC councillor Matthew Dean said the comments were defamatory.

LFPC chairman David Burton and Cllr Roberts gave presentations and residents spoke against the merger last Wednesday.

Cllr Ian McLennan said the audience gave “rapturous applause” to the Laverstock speakers.

Meanwhile, there were jeers when the SCC leader’s presentation overran its time slot.

And Cllr Burton had to step in after some audience members ignored requests for quiet from panel chairman Stuart Wheeler.

Cllr Burton said afterwards that SCC and the Wiltshire Councillors behind the proposal “should be ashamed” for winding up the community “to the point of being close to civil disorder”.

Cllr Roberts said Laverstock and Ford had a “fragmented identity” and lacked the power to shape its future.

He said the merger would give Laverstock better representation, a stronger voice, and membership of “a capable ‘doing’ authority with unlimited powers to promote wellbeing.”

Cllr Wheeler said he could totally understand strong feelings on both sides, although “tempers probably got got a little out of control”.

He said: “People get very upset about things. We’ll try to tune that bit out and listen to their real concerns.”

LFPC councillor Ron Champion said: “If this is a fairness argument, where do we draw the line? Do we include the Winterbournes, Idmiston and others Clarendon, Britford, Netherhampton?”

Wiltshire Council will decide at July’s full council meeting after a recommendation from the panel.