Middlewich Town Council ends early after clash with resident

The member of the public was asked to give councillors his name before he could ask a question during the open forum.

Town mayor Cllr Bill Walmsley then called the meeting to a halt following a five-minute exchange of words between councillors and the resident, who told members to call him ‘Harry’ before giving the name ‘Tom’.

In a statement issued following the meeting, Middlewich Town Council said: “The town council meeting on February 18 was adjourned towards the end of public question time.

“A member of the public had asked to speak. A number of members of the council expressed unhappiness about the individual being able to put a question and the mayor asked the member of the public to sit down and not put his question.

“The member of the public refused and continued speaking. As the meeting could not be brought to order the mayor closed the meeting.”

Two other members of the public had asked questions on the Middlewich eastern bypass and speeding issues earlier in the council’s open forum – with both supplying their names and questions to the council in advance.

When Cllr Bill Walmsley asked the public gallery if any other residents wished to speak, ‘Tom’ raised his hand to ask a question.

When prompted to give his name, the resident said: “You can call me Harry.”

He then suggested that the town council was acting against its own rules by not allowing him to speak without giving his own name – suggesting that giving a full name in open forum is ‘request only’.

‘Tom’ said: “Mr Mayor, is there a reason you will not allow me to speak as a voter here, or is it because you fear what I have to say?”

The resident went on to ask about speeding data provided in the meeting from the speed indicator device (SID) in Warmingham Lane.

After Cllr Bill Walmsley asked ‘how councillors feel’ about allowing the resident to ask his question, Labour Cllr Jonathan Parry said he was happy to hear the question, but Labour Cllr Carol Bulman said she would ‘rather not hear it’.

The resident then insisted he would not move from the public gallery until he was allowed to speak, and told the mayor that not allowing him to speak is ‘a contravention to democracy’.

Responding to the resident, Cllr Bill Walmsley said: “I’m sorry, if you are not prepared to sit down or leave, I am afraid we are going to have to close the meeting.”

Cllr Simon McGrory, Middlewich First, suggested that ‘Tom’ sends his question in writing – but the resident continued to quiz members on why he was not being allowed to speak.

In a final attempt to move the meeting on, Cllr Bill Walmsley declared that open forum had come to an end, but the resident went on to talk over the mayor.

‘Tom’ said: “Didn’t you say you were going to adjourn the whole meeting? All you have done is run down the clock.

“Are you going to allow me to answer my question which I am legally entitled to, or are you going to bend the rules?”

The resident attempted to ask another question before Cllr Walmsley declared the meeting closed.

A heated discussion then continued for several minutes between ‘Tom’ and some councillors, before members and the public left the Wych Centre, where the meeting was held.