THE Independent councillor who fired an angry online broadside against his own local authority over the recent cancellation of school transport says he is “unrepentant”.

“I’ve received tremendous public support and I stand by my views and my right to express them,” said Rory Stewart who represents Jedburgh and District and is a member of the ruling administration at Scottish Borders Council.

The 46-year-old plasterer was summoned to a meeting in Newtown yesterday to “discuss his comments” - after unleashing the firey tirade about the council's decision to cancel school transport due to a forecast for heavy snow - which failed to materialise.

It is considered a breach of the councillors’ code of conduct for elected members to publicly criticise paid officers.

Mr Stewart revealed he had received an emailed request from SBC chief executive Tracey Logan’s personal assistant after last week’s Border Telegraph revealed details of his rant which was posted on his Facebook page in the early hours of Thursday, January 14.

He had been incensed at the decision the previous afternoon to cancel all school transport in the region after the Met Office had predicted up to six centimetres of snow could fall over the 12 hours from 7pm.

He told his social media followers he was “absolutely astounded by the actions of SBC”, adding “What on bloody earth has got into them?”

He went on: “They want students to behave like young adults, but they themselves treat them like children.”

And he concluded: “You make yourself a laughing stock at times SBC.”

His comments garnered over 20 online messages of support.

“Well said! What a bunch of clowns making these decisions,” opined John Johnston, while another Facebook user Gary McEwen added: “Quite right…school was never closed in 1971 – the biggest snow fall in Gala then, but we went to school.”

Speaking to the Border Telegraph this week, Mr Stewart defended his comments.

“First of all, I am aware of the code of conduct and my criticism was not directed at any individual or group of officers,” he told us.

“Rather, I was expressing my frustration at the narrow interpretation of a health and safety culture which seems to pervade all walks of life nowadays, not just at the council.

“I believe the balance has gone too far the other way and I’m sure the many working parents who were forced to change their plans on January 14 and are concerned about the continuity of their children’s education and do not want them wrapped in cotton wool share my misgivings.

“The fact the snow never materialised is not really the point. In my view the predicted snowfall should not have been enough to cause such disruption which included, in Jedburgh, the cancellation on the Wednesday night of all school lets and activities.

"Even the local ski club had its session cancelled in the sports centre, which I find quite ironic.

“I’ve been stopped in the street, telephoned and even had visits at home by many members of the public, all saying they supported my comments for which I remain unrepentant.”