A top Bristol councillor has been cleared of "spying on residents" in a row involving a strip of council-owned land in Knowle.

Liberal Democrat councillor Gary Hopkins (Knowle) was referred to the council's Standards Committee after a complaint from a couple who live next to an entrance to Redcatch Park in the area.

Rod and Joanne Hartrey claimed they were intimidated by Mr Hopkins when they saw him in a neighbours' upstairs window.

They also claimed that the council cabinet member told others they wanted to build on the council-owned land.

The couple said there had been problems with the patch of land for several years, which measures 60 feet by 20 feet and had become badly overgrown. They cleared the site, next to the entrance to Redcatch Park, after being given a gardening licence in January by the council.

A committee panel, which met in private, decided there was no case to answer against Mr Hopkins.

They reached their decision after the complaint was investigated by lawyers.

It is understood that a firm of solicitors – not the council's own legal department – was used to mount the inquiry.

A council spokeswoman said: "There was a report to the committee which recommended no further action and it was confirmed there was no breach of the Code of Conduct."

Mr Hopkins has always strenuously denied allegations made against him by Rod and Joanne Hartrey.

Mr Hopkins, a cabinet councillor in charge of the council's environment and community safety department, said: "After investigation by an independent solicitor, at a cost of £7,500 to the Bristol taxpayer, this 'complaint' was thrown out without the panel even feeling that a hearing was necessary.

"I, and the various neighbours and park users, would have been much happier if there had been a public hearing so all the facts could have been put in front of the public.

"I hope that other councillors do not suffer in future from unsubstantiated allegations which take considerable time and effort to deal with."

The Standards Committee has powers to impose a range of sanctions against councillors if complaints against them are upheld.

They can be reprimanded or suspended from duty which would lead to a loss of their annual councillors' allowance.