MORE than two dozen formal complaints were lodged to Tameside Council over leader Cllr Brenda Warrington’s comments on Godley Green Garden Village.
But that is a miniscule amount compared to those who criticised her on social media or have objected to the planning application for 2,150 homes.
The politician sparked widespread anger when she vowed: “Godley Green, I make no mistake, I will be on that first bulldozer and that is a promise.
“I will be on that bulldozer that actually starts to dig up ready to build houses on Godley Green and believe me it will be rammed down your throat.
“It really will.”
Now The Correspondent has learned the authority received just 29 formal objections and complaints over her outburst.
A Freedom of Information request after the speech at a meeting of Tameside’s full council gained the extent of formal outrage.
And it revealed the scale of those who had made their feelings known to borough solicitor Sandra Stewart – less than one per cent of those who have objected to the plan.
However, the repercussions may be felt for a long time, especially with May’s local elections looming large.
Privately, a number of candidates admit the comments have not helped as opponents, particularly the Conservatives, look to make gains.
Main reasons for complaints included Cllr Warrington’s use of language, arguing she had breached councillors’ code of conduct.
One described her tone as, ‘not befitting of a local councillor’ and described the way she acted as ‘insensitive and damaging.’
Despite the formal complaints, Sandra Stewart ruled there is no case to answer.
“Councillors should be able to express their opinions and concerns in forceful terms,” she stated.
“The code is not intended to stifle the expressions of passion and frustration that often accompany discussions about local authority business.
“Accordingly having considered your complaint, I have determined this is not a matter falling with the jurisdiction set out by the Localism Act 2011.
“Whilst Cllr Warrington’s comments may have offended you and many others, they are not in breach of the statutory Code of Conduct as they fall within legitimate freedom of expression and need to be heard and understood in the context of the whole meeting.
“Accordingly, I do not intend to take this matter any further.”
Godley Green Garden Village is a hugely contentious matter, with green belt campaigners dubbing Cllr Warrington ‘Brenda the Bulldozer’.
Her comments did not help ease the tension but she insisted it came after personal abuse – a photo of her home was posted on social media – and the scheme is the way to go.
She said: “Of all the issues we discussed from the budget to vulnerable people – the opposition choose to shine a light on this, demonstrating their lack of care about a whole range of issues.
“Their creation of Brenda the Bulldozer shows their disrespect for something which deserves serious debate.
“After four years of personal abuse and harassment on this matter, I aimed my comments at those councillors who have been personally abusive, disrespectful and disingenuous in this debate.
“Clearly my comments were never directed at anyone else and any attempt by the opposition to suggest this is the case is a further example of their twisting of the facts.
“The real issue at stake here, is the opposition’s role in creating the problem but not supporting the solution.
“We are having to build houses on the green belt at Godley Green because of government imposed housing targets.
“Their government is forcing us to do it, but they are opposing it locally, that is duplicitous and dishonest.
“To meet that target we could throw up lots of high density, low quality homes, and again here government policy would put other parts of the greenbelt at risk.
“We will not do that, our plan is to grow the existing community into a new village with high quality homes, school places, GP provision, transport and community facilities.
“Creating jobs for local people and opening up green spaces for our community.
“Godley Green is the only way to meet the government imposed target. I commit to making it a genuinely sustainable village community.”
It seem Brenda Warrington is a law unto herself. She doesn’t seem to listen to anyone