Civil war has broken out between Labour town councillors in Filton over the future of the Ratepayers Arms pub.

The Ratepayers Arms, situated behind the Dolphin Swimming Pool at Filton Sports and Leisure Centre, is thought to be the only pub in the country to be owned and run by a town council.

But its future as a drinking establishment subsidised by taxpayers is in doubt because of its continued failure to make a profit.

Veteran Labour councillor Roger Hutchinson had been chairman of the council's finance committee, which has overall responsibility for the Ratepayers Arms, for 15 years.

He was recently voted off the committee after two Labour councillors, Adam Monk and council chairman Terry Pomroy, chose not to vote at the council AGM in May.

Their decision led to the Tories overturning Labour's slim majority of one, meaning a Conservative councillor was appointed head of the committee, something that Mr Hutchinson described as "treachery" on his Facebook page.

Mr Pomroy – who has sent a letter to Labour Party members explaining his actions – and Mr Monk, are now sitting as Independent Labour councillors, although they are still members of the party.

Mr Hutchinson regularly drinks at the Ratepayers Arms, and Mr Pomroy said: "We've even got a boules court there. I don't know anyone else who plays on it apart from the Hutchinson family. I believe Roger Hutchinson sees the Ratepayers Arms as an extension of his front room."

Mr Monk set up a bar working group in October to look at ways to cut costs.

Methods to save money have included cutting the number of real ales on tap from five to two, reducing spirit levels, and canceling all entertainment apart from the monthly quiz.

Mr Monk said: "It's not right that a town council should run a bar that loses money and is used by a very small number of people.

"I'm not against drinking, and I have no problem with a bar that makes money, but using council money to subsidise a bar where that money can be better spent maybe improving the play park or helping people go swimming for free, that's just not on.

"It's a great asset and it could be brilliant, but unless it's able to change, its future is limited. It must at least break even, but really it has to return a profit.

"I would be really disappointed if it closed, but I don't think we can stand there as a council, and look at saving money in one area and then throw our money down the drain at a bar that 20 people frequent. Unless we can see a return on our investment, we have no choice but to close it."

Mr Hutchinson said he was a regular at the Ratepayers Arms but denied he and his family were the only people to play boules there.

He said: "I use the pub, not every night of the week but several times. I would think the chairman of the town council would be quite pleased to see that I spend my hard-earned money there. He hasn't been there for two or three years."

Mr Hutchinson said he believed the leisure centre was required to have a facility serving refreshments even if the pub was forced to shut. He claimed cost-cutting measures such as cutting the number of guest beers, axing Sunday music nights and Monday karaoke nights had lost the pub some of its former customers, hitting its revenue.

● A full meeting of Filton Town Council is being held today in the pavilion at the sports centre, Elm Park, starting at 7pm.

This is an extract from a letter sent from Terry Pomroy to fellow Labour members:

"Over the past months you will have read in the branch newsletter and minutes the troubles occurring within the Labour party here in Filton. I believe I owe you the courtesy of an explanation.

"All my actions have been done after much deliberation.

"Importantly, there is no such thing as a Labour 'whip' at parish council level and the party are happy for councillors to act independently provided they adhere to Labour party policy. The Labour party to my knowledge does not support subsidising drinking.

"We have not been voting with the Tories as accused, but on the contrary, we have presented a policy on the future of the Ratepayers Arms, fully expecting it to be supported by our own group.

"The policy was passed with votes from opposition councillors who are willing to put aside childish party politics and assist in the changes necessary to make the Ratepayers Arms a benefit to the local taxpayer and not a burden.

"The Ratepayers has been run at a loss for a number of years. I'm sad to say that it is largely due to the decisions of the other Labour councillors, all I and colleagues are now seeking to do is ensure a level of accountability.

"I am, however, happy to report that since the policy was debated in November, against a background of antagonism by our fellow Labour councillors, who have opposed every recommendation put forward to the parish council on the grounds that they are happy with the bar, we have succeeded in turning the fortunes of the bar around...

"After the heated debate in the November council meeting, I as chair of the parish council, received written complaints from those present about the behaviour and language used against Adam by a fellow Labour councillor.

"As such I have instructed the chair of the branch that I find this intimidatory behaviour unacceptable, and will not attend any meetings until Adam has received the appropriate apology.

"Some of the decisions taken by us as Labour councillors in the past have not proved successful, the petanque ring and cycle speedway are typical examples of where money has been wasted, not providing the residents with facilities they need or want.

"I hope we can rely on your support in efforts to ensure that the local Labour party returns to being truly democratic and open."