Candidate hits back at offensive Facebook posts

“SENILE”, “confused” and “too old to do the job”. These are just some of the insults a council candidate says were aimed at her on social media following her decision to stand for re-election aged 81.

Independent candidate Ella Dodd, who has served the village of Coity, near Bridgend, as a county councillor for 11 years and for 37 years as a community councillor, has now taken to her own Facebook page to hit back at what she has branded “blatantly offensive ageist posts”.

“It seems to me that people get some kick out of being ‘keyboard warriors’ and vent to make themselves feel ‘big’ without having the guts to approach the person concerned,” Ella posted.

She also claimed she had seen a post branding her an “old biddy”.

“It has upset me terribly,” she said. “But the people in Coity have been marvellous. People are saying I have their support.”

Ella, who turns 82 on May 18, is standing once again for election to Coity Higher Community Council and Bridgend County Borough Council.

She said far from being “senile” and over the hill, as her detractors have claimed, she has and continues to serve her community.

She is chairwoman of governors at Coety Primary and has been for the last 20 years and has also served as the chairwoman of the county council’s audit committee and as chairwoman and vice chairwoman of the Coychurch Crematorium Committee.

“I am so active. I play table tennis and do yoga. But I have had trouble sleeping and have lost a lot of weight,” she said.

“It is so upsetting. I have lived in Coity all my life. I went to the old village school.

“I have just done everything in the village and have helped so many people.

“I just enjoy doing it.”