BCP councillors 'intimidated' by pro-Palestine protesters

Party councillors have written to council chief executive Graham Farrant following a disturbance at Tuesday’s full council meeting. 

Shouting from the public viewing gallery could be heard in the town hall by protesters seemingly unhappy around the council’s position on the war between Israel and Palestine. 

In a letter to Mr Farrant and shared with the Echo, the Conservatives described the group of pro-Palestinian protesters as “intimidating”. 

Chief executive Graham Farrant (Image: Richard Crease)

The letter added that there should have been a police presence at the town hall “instead of them being sat in their cars on the road outside”. 

It added: "The security team did a good job however they should not have been put into that position that they needed to physically escort them out.  

“I am all for freedom of speech, however it shouldn’t lead to the disruption of a full council meeting where the YouTube livestream is paused due to use of divisive, inflammatory language.” 

It also said Jewish colleagues “felt unsafe and threatened, choosing not to attend”. 

The Tories suggested that if protesters are at council meetings, there should be a designated space for them away from the town hall entrance and it should be policed. 

Officers should be inside the building to support staff, the letter added. 

Vikki Slade (Image: Freelance)

Council and Lib Dem leader Vikki Slade said the concerns around safety at council meetings are not just limited to the Tories but all parties. 

She said: “Everybody has raised concerns about the disorder that we have. There's a bit of suggestion that one of our members has made about whether it's appropriate for people to take stuff into the gallery because of the risk of things being thrown. 

"We've asked Graham [Farrant] to look at options in terms of that, but obviously we absolutely welcome protests and public engagement.” 

Green party leader Chris Rigby said his party believes in people taking “non-violent action”, adding the protests were “very attention grabbing”. 

Green's Chris Rigby (left) (Image: Richard Crease)

He added: “At no point did we ever feel threatened by the protest. We understand there’s the right way of getting questions to the council, though. And I do understand that other people have their concerns.” 

Conservative leader Phil Broadhead said last week's events had shown pervious concerns raised by the party "were not unfounded" and it is "completely unacceptable for extreme protesters to harass and scream at residents and councillors in a public meeting - especially when we are all there to do our job on local issues, not international matters".

He added "We’re local councillors and the national issues should stay national.”