An MSP has accused Angus Council’s leader of “gagging” her over the authority’s proposed cull of playpark equipment.
North East Labour member Jenny Marra said she felt Angus Council have stopped her from speaking on behalf of her constituents after an invitation from Councillor Iain Gaul to address the full council at a meeting next week was withdrawn.
Ms Marra is thought to have irked the Angus SNP administration with an online video she put together as a personal response to the playpark proposals.
Angus Council is considering a plan that would see equipment removed from 50 parks across the district and in the video Ms Marra is seen visiting possible hit list locations across the county.
She said: “I think they’re gagging me. They clearly don’t like the video I did of the campaign and Iain Gaul has accused me of making false allegations, but all my information was taken from council documents.”
The council leader admitted an offer to address the full council has been withdrawn and has accused the politician of being “wrong and vexatious.”
Mr Gaul had asked the MSP to address her comments at Thursday’s full meeting.
Ms Marra said she would be “delighted” to attend, but the invitation was withdrawn a few days later with Mr Gaul citing a “change of circumstances.”
Mr Gaul said he could not provide details as to the reasoning.
“I am bound by codes of behaviour and I can’t say what the change in circumstances is,” said Mr Gaul. “It may be revealed at some time in the future, but that is outwith my control.”
The disagreement surrounds a consultation currently under way in Angus, with the debate having taken on an increasingly political edge as members of opposing parties point the finger of responsibility at each other.
Parents desperate to see the park equipment saved say they have been caught in the middle of the issue.
Residents have been told that not all the park equipment can be retained and they would have to indicate which facilities they would be happy to let go and which ones they want to keep.
Arlene Law, a Forfar mum who has been leading a campaign to persuade the council to leave the parks as they are, said: “Getting rid of one park is no different from getting rid of them all. Getting rid of one or two parks is going to save an even lower amount of money than before, so it becomes even more ridiculous.
“The council say they are aiming at providing super parks for kids aged nine years and up to fight obesity, but by the time kids are nine they’re going to be sitting at home playing their computer if they’ve not been able to go to a park before that.”
Fellow mum Moira Kirkwood said: “Choosing which parks should go is not our job. If they want to close parks then they can take responsibility for it. We want all our parks saved.”
The deadline to take part in Angus Council’s consultation is December 14.
Those interested can take part at angus.gov.uk/playparks, or by collecting a paper survey from council ACCESS offices or libraries.