I am not corrupt, says councillor over ‘fiddling’ remark on doorstep
A COUNCILLOR has defended his actions after being caught on video arguing with a resident whilst out canvassing for the upcoming local election.
Coun Billy Sheerin was caught on a doorbell camera debating controversial cycle lanes in Castleton, Rochdale, which he claimed he got ‘through external funding and fiddling’. The Castleton councillor has since clarified that he was referring to fiddling his time around rather than corruption which it could be interpreted as.
The cycle lanes were installed over the course of 2023 as part of a multimillion pound active travel scheme funded by the mayoral fund.
The resulting roadworks created traffic chaos in the area with constant delays for motorists until the completion last month.
Currently there are plans to extend this scheme towards Rochdale which were set to be approved by town hall bosses at a meeting on March 19, but that was delayed pending further consultation.
As a councillor for the ward, Coun Sheerin explained that he has taken a lot of grief for supporting the project, which sparked the row between him and a woman whom he says he has known for a long time. Unbeknownst to the former Rochdale mayor, the conversation was being recorded.
The clips shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) show the councillor saying: “When I drive down the road, that beautiful road, no one else in Rochdale can get a new one. I got it through external funding and fiddling.”
The video from the doorbell camera comes in 20 second clips so the full conversation cannot be seen. But local media outlet Roch Valley Radio published more quotes from the conversation online which saw Coun Sheerin being critical of local businesses for not supporting the scheme and not maintaining their shops aesthetically. The resident conversing with Coun Sheerin claimed the money could be better spent on the NHS and that emergency service vehicles could be blocked on the road – this did not get a response from the councillor at the time.
Coun Sheerin told the LDRS: “My remark (under stress) about fiddling was relating to the time and effort that I had given doing my best for the residents of Castleton and those who know me well will understand what I mean and what I stand for.
“I can honestly say I have never been involved in anything corrupt and again those who really know me know that this is true.”
His statement added: “I have always tried my best for the village and its residents. Those who really know me will back me up regarding this. I am not and will never be corrupt. My point about fiddling was taken out of context. I sometimes say things in my frustration that upset people and for this I am truly sorry.”