'Offensive' remarks from Council Officer

The Chairman of Heywood Township was forced to call a stop to a report being presented by a council officer who made remarks described as "rude and offensive" about residents when they objected to a play area being moved from a quiet area of Hopwood Park to the front of the park next to the main road.

Residents were angry and upset when they heard the council officer describe them as angry and grumpy, but they were left in no doubt what they officer thought of them, when she described some of them as probably being grumpy all their lives.

The officer added insult to injury when she then told the residents they had "no right to be consulted" and that they were wrong to oppose the new site for the play area. 

The Township Chairman, Councillor Alan McCarthy said: "I had to stop the report before the audience reacted to the comments being made. I could see the disgust felt by residents and by other members of the public; many officers in the audience were also showing that they were disgusted at the comments being made.

Whilst I continued with the meeting Councillor Lambert spoke to a senior officer and the report was brought to an abrupt end."

A resolution put by Councillor Lambert and supported by Councillor Carol Wardle, that the construction work be stopped and the play pathfinder be refused, was passed unaminously.