A councillor is calling for a public apology after claiming residents were “unlawfully excluded” from a meeting of Culcheth & Glazebury Parish Council at the local library.
Independent Councillor Neil Johnson says he has received written confirmation that residents were “unlawfully excluded” from this month’s meeting of the Parish Council at Culcheth Library.
Earlier this month, there was shock after a video was circulated on social media showing what Cllr. Johnson described as “chaos at the Parish Council”.
The video, filmed outside Culcheth Library, showed a number of residents from the Protect Culcheth Village Campaign Group being denied entry to the Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council
Neil promised to contact the Borough Council to ask that the issues were investigated and that clarity was provided on the number of people eligible to be in the building under fire regulations.
He has received a written response which states that 30 people may be safely accommodated in the Community Room, but that a maximum of 70 can be accommodated in the main room of the Library where the Parish Council holds its meetings.
Residents were told on the night that the Library could only accommodate 25 persons – a figure which does not appear in any of the fire risk assessments provided to Cllr Johnson.
Cllr. Johnson said: “We now have written confirmation that residents were unlawfully excluded from a public meeting of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council.
“The Council and LiveWire’s documentation make clear that the Community Room can accommodate 30 people, while the main room – where the Parish Council holds its meetings – can accommodate 70 people.
“A figure of 25 was given on the night, which doesn’t appear anywhere on official paperwork.
“Denying residents the right to attend a public meeting of the Parish Council is extremely serious. It is an affront to democracy, but more than that, it is rightly illegal.
“I have now sent a letter to my fellow members of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council to ask that an apology is issued to residents who were unfairly locked out of the meeting this month. I’ve also asked for a copy of the Parish Council’s risk assessment documents so that these can be scrutinised by all members.
“I have shared all of the information I have received with the Protect Culcheth Village Group, including a copy of the risk assessment for out-of-hours use of our Library.
“I am simply appalled that this situation has occurred.”
Culcheth Parish Council and Labour members of the council declined an opportunity to respond to Cllr. Johnson’s claims.
