Police called as protests interrupt meeting

9:30am Thursday 21st February 2013 in News

THERE was drama in the council chamber as police were called after a number of disruptions to last night’s meeting.

As the meeting started, The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Guy Harkin, asked the people packed into the public gallery to behave themselves, recalling protests at last year's budget meeting.

His plea was immediately met by one member of the public shouting: “Get on with it”.

The meeting was then adjourned for five minutes while he was ejected.

A large banner reading “NO MORE CUTS” was also draped from the balcony before being removed.

The public gallery then had to be cleared altogether at about 7.30pm after more disruption, when a woman started heckling the mayor.

The public were allowed back in after the mayor identified Tom Hanley, the chairman of the save Bolton’s libraries campaign, as being particularly disruptive.

Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris sat down with Mr Hanley for a five-minute talk before he agreed to leave. Town Hall security called for police back-up, and one officer arrived to help contain the situation.

The meeting proper only got under way after 8pm, more than an hour after it was scheduled to start.

Earlier about 100 protesters gathered outside the Town Hall’s staff entrance ahead of last night's meeting.

There were drums, whistles and a PA system, and councillors entering the Town Hall were greeted with chants of “Labour councillors show some guts, get off your knees and fight the cuts”.

Protester Roy Whittle, aged 83, from Smithills, worked for the council for 30 years until 1994.

He said: “I’m protesting against the budget cuts because they’re cutting services and putting up rates.”

Bolton Unison branch chairman Matt Kilsby said: “The turnout is all right considering it is such a cold night.

“I don’t think the council realises the strength of feeling about the cuts.”

Comments(20)

bernihanley says...
10:45am Thu 21 Feb 13

shocking video quality!

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macauley says...
11:04am Thu 21 Feb 13

cliff morris again!

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steveG says...
11:19am Thu 21 Feb 13

This should be televised,let all the country see democracy at its best - Bolton Council in all its glory !!

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angus macoatup says...
11:49am Thu 21 Feb 13

cut your salaries

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rnorris says...
12:05pm Thu 21 Feb 13

macauley wrote:
cliff morris again!
He appears to be destroying Bolton single handed..........Get rid......

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boltonnut says...
1:13pm Thu 21 Feb 13

It's a start,keep the protests active.

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127001 says...
1:38pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Will the video be released on the Blu-ray format anytime soon?

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macauley says...
1:51pm Thu 21 Feb 13

127001 wrote:
Will the video be released on the Blu-ray format anytime soon?
it should be rated as p.g.

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exiled says...
2:35pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Empty vessels make the most noise. Cue the unions!

Thankfully their numbers are dwindling and perhaps they will grow up, enjoy a more productive life however they wish, and look back at this time as an opportunity to roll up their sleeves and knuckle down, instead of moaning and kicking their heels.

The cuts are necessary, whether thye are agreeable or not. Quicker it's done, the quicker we learn from them and recover as a society.

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127001 says...
2:43pm Thu 21 Feb 13

We need to ask the following questions;

Does Bolton need a Chief Executive?

Does Bolton need 60 council members?

Does Bolton Market need £4.5 million spending on it?

Does the train station need moving? Is it essential (Bolton Council pying certain %age).

All of those questions equate to around £20m (probably more)...

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Phil from Smithills says...
2:55pm Thu 21 Feb 13

127001 wrote:
We need to ask the following questions;

Does Bolton need a Chief Executive?

Does Bolton need 60 council members?

Does Bolton Market need £4.5 million spending on it?

Does the train station need moving? Is it essential (Bolton Council pying certain %age).

All of those questions equate to around £20m (probably more)...
I think the answer is NO to all of your questions

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BWFC71 says...
5:00pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Actually the train station isn't moving, its teh bus station, and the money for that isn't coming from Bolton Council, but from Transport for Greater Manchester!!! But of course, lets not get the facts in the say of this!!!

We don't need a new bus station either, all it needs is for buses to be routed around the train station and the current Instercahnge bus station - and before anyone says that it cannot be done, then why are buses not allowed around certain roads of Lostock and why are bus services not allowed around The Crescent!!!

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owencoyle99 says...
5:52pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Get real cuts have to be made in private industry there are now no final salary pensions why should joe public pay for public pensions we cannot afford it
Just shows the unions up when only 100 turn up the unions ruined this country 40yrs ago.

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Robert2012 says...
7:46pm Thu 21 Feb 13

ha ha ha...

what was that on the video...

windowlickers day out!

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hazdbfs says...
7:51pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Wasn't aware we were living under a dictatorship? Isn't freedom of speech meant to be the rule? Way to go, bolton council ( deliberate lower case first letters as they don't deserve to have capitals).... Silence the minions so they do their bidding. If anyone can tell me how to do something about these elected idiots, please let me know. I already vote as wisely as I can.

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Bolton Rover says...
9:56pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Get rid of this so called cabinet, it's clear they are clueless and do not represent the people of Bolton. Morris and Co out.

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grimtown says...
5:03am Fri 22 Feb 13

I wish we had lost the second world war.

Hitler and the Nazi party where less corrupt than Bolton Council.

Hial Mr Morris
Hial sean Harriss
Anyone want to right a play

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hoboh2o says...
7:03am Fri 22 Feb 13

I hope this new maybe introduced tax on high value properties takes into accout the total of ALL property you own, Morris will be b*ggerd then!

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philpjd says...
6:11pm Sat 23 Feb 13

BUDGET CUTS Sorry to write this Mr harkin but many times i see the jaguar waiting to take you to meetings and then waiting for you to return ,cost cuts could be made buy selling the car the private number plate and the drivers wage?Giving the buisness to private taxi firms this would benefit everyone and what a massive saving to the borough.

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BWFC71 says...
10:20am Sun 24 Feb 13

grimtown wrote:
I wish we had lost the second world war.

Hitler and the Nazi party where less corrupt than Bolton Council.

Hial Mr Morris
Hial sean Harriss
Anyone want to right a play
And you'd be able to spell German better - although English would still ahve been our first language as Hitler did not want to invde UK but to be alligned with it - so also get to know your History!!!

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