Tory councillor claims cats beheaded in Bexley parks | Politics | News
Go Ape plans spark extraordinary row (Image: Bexley Council)
A meeting of local councilors last night descended into chaos after a Conservative councilor claimed “people are decapitating cats” in local parks and another allegedly branded his colleagues “dirtbags”.
Extraordinary scenes unfolded at Bexley Council in South East London as members discussed plans to build a Go Ape adventure center at Danson Park in the heart of the borough.
Heated debates repeatedly erupted into jeers in the public gallery as exasperated civil servants and councilors appealed for calm.
In the middle of the meeting, Conservative councilor Barry Saunders, who represents Falconwood and Welling, made the startling claim that cats were being decapitated, describing it as a “problem” in the area. The Daily Express was unable to independently verify this claim.
The meeting was disrupted several times as members of the public jeered councilors and officers, and at one point security were called when tempers flared.
In shocking scenes, a Conservative councilor was heard branding colleagues “dirtbags” as the session spiraled out of control, multiple sources told the Daily Express.
The debate centers on plans for the Go Ape site in Danson Park, which campaigners argue is metropolitan open land and should be protected from further commercialisation.
The National Planning Policy and the London Plan allow for outdoor sports and recreation facilities on such land.
Bexley’s Reform group, whose seats went from zero to seven in last month’s local election, said it believed there were more reasons to reject the plan than support it.
A Bexley Reform spokesman said of the Conservatives: “It was clear that the Conservatives, standing on a manifesto to stop reform building in the green belt, were completely disingenuous.”
The spokesman accused the Conservative Party of allowing councilor Dave Courtois to campaign on a ticket to block the proposal, despite giving it “glowing approval at the pre-application stage in June 2024”.
The new facility will take up less than 3 percent of the entire park, and it is understood the application will use an existing building and construct two tents and a wood-lined storage container.
Bexley Council descended into extraordinary chaos (Image: Bexley Council)
He added: “What will Commander Courtois do next? He got angry and embarrassed you to his colleagues. Will he hold his nose and still support the Conservative Party for a seat at the high table?”
A spokesman for the Conservative Party-run local council confirmed the move was a “regulatory decision that takes into account all views expressed and the compliance of the application with planning policies”.
They added: “Danson Park currently hosts a range of water sports, a playground, playground, tennis courts, football pitches and a range of businesses.
“Now that the application has been approved, Bexley Council will be contacting the company to deliver this new facility and secure the best deal for residents.”
