Councillor blasted for ‘opposing schemes’
A COUNCILLOR has been accused of ‘riling up hatred’ for investiment during a heated town hall meeting.
Labour members launched a no-holdsbarred criticism of Milnshaw councillor Malcolm Pritchard following his stance on Higham’s Playing Fields.
In response, Coun Pritchard, who last month announced he was quitting UKIP, pointed to campaigners in the council chamber’s public gallery and said he supported the people.
Speaking about Coun Pritchard, Coun Gareth Molineux told the meeting: “Every time anybody has suggested putting any investment into Milnshaw, including building houses, he has objected every single time. I thought a councillor was there to invest in a community, not to leave the status quo and not to leave the town and his area that he represents decline. The minute that someone comes with a serious offer of investing millions of pounds he says ‘we’re not interested, I’m going to let my residents down’ and take the populist view because I’m quite happy to get in that council chamber and make it look like I’m standing up for my residents. Stop riling up hatred for investment.”
Coun Ken Moss added: “I just don’t understand why you would be turning down this in your own ward. There’s so much potential out there for junior football teams. They are booking left right and centre out of the borough.” Coun Pritchard responded: “I’m a people councillor and not a politician like Ken Moss and Gareth Molineux.”