Bedford’s mayor has been accused of making “offensive” comments on social media by a Green borough councillor.
Councillor Ben Foley (Greyfriars) commented on the mayor’s comment on opposition councillors and the possible house demolitions for East West Rail during this week’s Executive Meeting (Wednesday).
He said: “I’ve seen that the mayor posted on social media claiming that I have talked dismissively of people losing their homes.”
On his Facebook page (Tom4Change) mayor Tom Wootton said: “I was shocked by the coldness that many Labour, Lib Dem, and Green Councillors displayed [during Full Council – January 15] to the very real damage that will be done to the lives and livelihoods of many residents of our borough due to the proposed so-called Northern Route.
“To talk so dismissively of people losing their homes when they are in the room and facing so much uncertainty is, to me, heartless,” he posted.
Read: Bedford Ian writes… To Route E or not Route E
Councillor Foley said: “I find that offensive.
“Time and time again, I have raised the demolition threat to residents on Ashburnham Road when nobody else was mentioning them.
“I might disagree with the mayor about the best tactic to use to avoid people losing their homes, but I most certainly do not, and will not talk, dismissively about the possibility that will happen.
“I’m disappointed that the mayor isn’t here to hear that in person,” he said.
Councillor Foley said he would be writing to him to express his disappointment.
The Conservative Group was approached for a comment but did not respond at the time of publication.
In June last year, complaints were made against Conservative Cllr Marc Frost for content he had posted on his Facebook page, which Bedford Conservative Group also refused to comment upon.
Read: Conservative councillor under fire for spreading misinformation in “inflammatory” social media post
However, Bedford Borough Council’s conservative councillors aren’t the only ones who have had their behaviour called into question recently.
Just a few weeks ago (9 January) we reported on comments Cllr Royden (Liberal Democrats/Brickhill) had made to another councillor over the cuts to school crossing patrols.
Read: Councillor told he’s “quite offensive” in school crossing patrol row
Cllr Royden told Cllr Gribble (Independent/Renhold and Ravensden), portfolio holder for environment that due to the cuts “The safety of those children getting to and from the school is on your shoulders now”.
Cllr Gribble replied: “The decision was made on the information given. Please don’t shout at me; please don’t gesticulate at me; I actually find it quite offensive. And I also find it quite offensive that you are saying that children’s lives are on my shoulders.
“That is really unacceptable,” she said.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
Additional reporting by
Paul Hutchinson, Bedford Independent
