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Published on: 22/09/2017 08:40 AMReported by: roving-eye
Sefton Council is investigating after local park campaigners say they were left feeling bullied and intimidated after attending a Southport Area Committee meeting.
The Ovington Drive/Kew Woods playground campaigners say they were rounded upon and shouted at by councillors at the meeting and also by its Chair, Cllr Richard Hands.
The problems apparently began when their own ward councillor, Fred Weavers, responded to a question they had on the meeting's agenda.
The Kew Ward residents say he repeatedly pointed his finger at them during his reply and it then escalated when he and several of his fellow Lib-Dem councillors began berating the campaigners.
Diane Thomas, one of the Kew Woods Playground campaigners, said she felt "under attack" for asking a simple question:
"Sefton made a very generous offer to keep the playground open if the Kew Ward Councillors will contribute £20,000 of ward funds to the estimated £50,000 cost of replacing the park equipment. Kew's councillors have years of unused funds sitting there. I simply asked will they release the funds and if so when but then came under attack for doing so."
Her fellow campaigner Nat Glennon agreed,
"It was astonishing, one after another those councillors and their colleagues did not just disagree with Diane or attempt to explain, they went for her. The Chair of the meeting was shouting at her until people from the audience told him to stop it. He later apologised claiming he hadn't meant to do so, it was appalling to watch."
Sefton Council Leader, Ian Maher, expressed reservations about the news of how the meeting was handled:
""I am very concerned about reports that Ovington park campaigners felt bullied while attending Wednesday's Southport Area Committee meeting. This is not at all how local democracy should work."
Local mum Diane explained:
"It was very intimidating and I fluffed my supplementary question because I wasn't expecting such an aggressive response. They tried to deny they had misled people during our campaign but we know they have done exactly that. After seeing them wholeheartedly endorsing a cycle path scheme and then treating us in that fashion I'm disgusted by the Kew Ward councillors."
A petition with 145 signatures for a proposed cycle path was also presented to the meeting by Sea Cadets. It was endorsed by Councillor Weavers and the idea fully supported by his colleagues despite there being no costings available and the land to be used not belonging to the council.
The campaigners though point out that their playground already exists, has a rough estimate of cost, does belong to Sefton and that they have a petition with over 2100 signatures but they could receive no assurance that the ward funds required would be released.
For Diane it was proof of what they had long suspected:
"We were worried that the Lib-Dem councillors were preferring their own cycle project and just paying lip service to our campaign; after being subjected to what felt like bullying we are more convinced than ever."
Councillor Weavers and his colleagues told the campaigners that they didn't have details from Sefton Council regarding the park offer and he insisted that "we're doing a good job".
Sefton accounts show just under £24,000 held in Kew ward funds but Cllr Weavers claimed much of it was earmarked for projects. The ward accounts, however, state that only £1,115 was committed, leaving a balance available of over £22,777.
Norwood Councillor Marianne Welsh challenged him, telling the meeting:
"Kew councillors continually have a massive amount in their pot and they are not spending it in their community.Those children need that playground, they want it and they should have that money."
For Nat and Diane, it was an experience never to be repeated:
"I'm glad it was just Diane asking the question and me there for support, I don't think we'd go back, what's the point if they treat you like that?" asked Nat Glennon.
Diane Thomas agreed and also confirmed a complaint had been made:
"Ironically, they were later discussing proposals to close the Southport Area Committee, after being subjected to that I'd say anything else would be preferable. That wasn't local democracy, it felt like abuse of power."
Council leader Ian Maher confirmed that he'd instructed officers to make enquiries:
"The campaigners had questions on the agenda and deserved to be treated with respect, not to be left feeling intimidated and as though they would never wish to return. I have asked council officers to look into this matter and provide me with a full update."
You may comment here but news always gets more discussion at our facebook.com/groups/southportnews
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Good, let's hope they also probe:
1) Is it ok for councillors to post on political matters/berate other fellow councillors under pseudonyms without making clear they are a council rep. Other councils have implemented this and I can only see the benefits.
2) Is it ok to bombard us with these "party political broadcasts by stealth" without saying "story submitted by Southport Liberal Democrats" or whatever party has put the article together to try and make their candle shine brighter by blowing out someone else's.
3) Is it ok to be posting stories like "Councillors vote to give themselves a 5% pay rise" which is fairly disingenuous and by some of the comments people have taken away that Labour proposed "let's give ourselves a pay rise" rather than actually submitted a motion to support a union recommendation to give *all* council workers a rise.
The lack of transparency and parties working together hurts us and hurts the town. There's absolutely no benefit to the town to have a load of councillors pushing their own party agendas and constantly be at war with each other...they can't even bear to work together in the same town let alone with what they want us to see as our "Bootle Overlords".
The behaviour of some of our paid electives brings the council into disrepute and makes the town look bitter and petty. I'm sure we have good councillors but that is overshadowed by our publicity hungry egotists.
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" intimidation ", " bullying ", welcome to the wonderful world of politics.
Typical behaviour only to be expected from such a bunch of local desperados.
You know what to do when these creeps are out and about at re-election time.
One knows it will be a foregone conclusion that after " an investigation " these creeps will emerge from the bog clutching haloes gleaming in the sunlight.
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Everything is "bullying" or "hate" these days... The babies have lost the plot. Grow a pair.
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Originally Posted by dav
Everything is "bullying" or "hate" these days... The babies have lost the plot. Grow a pair.
Two young mums treated in this fashion and that is your response "grow a pair"?! What a brave little troll you are, I'm not sure their husbands would agree though... perhaps you'd like to take it up with them?
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Originally Posted by dav
Everything is "bullying" or "hate" these days
Bullying and Hate are on the rise in many areas of society and should be STOPPED. There are strict rules in the council chamber and councillors can and should be suspended if found to have breached.
Originally Posted by dav
The babies have lost the plot. Grow a pair.
Thankfully this isn't the opinion of the many in Southport, people fighting to keep their local park open for the local kids should be appluaded, and their voice should be heard in the council chamber without the threat of abusive retorts or finger pointing.
I hope these ladies return one day to the chamber and are welcomed, they and their children are who the councillors should be representing and if the councillors can make a good case against giving the money over then so be it, but do it will respect and understanding.
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Originally Posted by dav
Everything is "bullying" or "hate" these days... The babies have lost the plot. Grow a pair.
In this instance bullying sounds correct, councillors are supposedly civilised, intelligent people, with the ability to debate and discuss, when you get a case of those currently in power feel that the right response is to browbeat and shout down a perfectly legitimate question from residents, that sure as hell counts as bullying.
If for instance the ladies had responded in the same manner, these "worthy" councillors would probably have closed the meeting citing unruly conduct, which frankly is probably what they tried to do, then they would have the excuse to kick the problem into the "long grass".
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They should be going after Damien Moore not the council. It is his governement that cut council funding by 50%.
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