Seaton’s Voice branded “bullies”

Council meeting walkout

ANGRY members of Seaton’s Voice stormed out of this week’s town council meeting after being branded a bunch of bullies.

The charge was brought by Councillor John Meakin, who was speaking in defence of fellow member Sophie O’Connell.

He deplored the fact that on her Facebook internet blog she had told of her fears about attending council meetings saying :”I hope I do not get bullied again tonight”.

He said Miss O’Connell, who did not attend Monday’s meeting because of ill health, later told him she was referring to members of Seaton’s Voice – the community action group.

Mr Meakin said her remarks were one of the most serious things he had ever come across on the council.

“I was incensed by it,” he said. “That a councillor, particularly a young one, should come to a meeting fearing they are going to get bullied is unacceptable.”

But Mr Meakin’s support of her bullying claims against Seaton’s Voice brought cries of “libellous” from members of the organisation who all left the meeting in protest.

And Mayor Bob Palacio brought the debate to an end after Town Clerk David Mears ruled it was not a proper forum for it.

“I advise you to move on to the next business,” he said.

Mr Palacio added;” It is time to draw a line under it.”

Coun Peter Burrows added that he wanted to disassociate himself from Mr Meakin’s remarks about bullying.