Cop probe over car park terror campaign
Dirty tactics claim in £1.4m charges row
A council chief has called in police after being threatened and abused over plans to axe town centre free parking.
Highland Council ’s budget leader Counci l lor Al i ster Mackinnon says he has been accosted in the street while out with his family, insulted online and featured on “wanted” posters.
He has become a target over his proposal to end free parking in town centres in the region.
The move is designed to raise £1.4million to reduce the council deficit but opponents say the charges could kill off businesses.
Mack innon and fel low councillor Angela MacLean have been pictured on “Wanted for the attempted murder of Dingwall” posters that appeared on walls and buildings across the Easter Ross town.
MacKinnon claims he has also been targeted online. And he plans to sue the people in Dingwall – his home town – who he believes are responsible for the posters.
He said: “It has been horrendous this last few weeks. The comments have been deeply hurtful to me and my family.
“I accept criticism in my role as budget leader but what I will not accept is comments which are defamatory and an attack on me personally.
“I have been with my family shopping when members of the public have come up to me and made insulting comments
“I am liaising with my legal adviser and have contacted the police. I run a financial services business and I cannot have people challenging my integrity like this.”
One Facebook message about Mackinnon said: ” This man cannot be trusted. He will be answerable for his actions.”
MacLean said: “This doesn’t only affect me as a councillor who is working hard to do the best for my ward. It affects my family when they read what has been said without any justification.”
Local businessman and anticharges campaigner David Campbell insisted: “Abuse has no place in the campaign, I do not engage in it and this should be decided on the facts alone.”
Mackinnon says another Dingwall councillor Graham McKenzie – who is against the charges – also wrote him a letter expressing his disgust.
Police said they had been contacted about the matter.
Protesters have organised a public meeting on Tuesday in Dingwall, which the councillors have been invited to attend.