Hair straighteners row heats up council meeting

A meeting over the future of trees at a Cheshire beauty spot took what was described as a "bizarre" turn.

It had to be halted when campaigners from Friends of Poynton Pool took issue with comments made by the chairman.

They said they believed he had been trying to discredit them by suggesting their technical adviser worked for GHD - which makes hairdressing equipment - rather than an engineering firm with the same initials.

But Councillor Mark Goldsmith said he "had the right to ask questions as to whether that’s the case or not".

Cheshire East Council wants to remove a number of trees on the bank of the Poynton Pool reservoir for what it says are safety reasons.

Campaigners from Friends of Poynton Pool attended the economy and growth committee to discuss a petition signed by more than 5,000 people.

When Speaker Stewart Tennant said he had worked for engineering firm GHD for 35 years, Independent Mr Goldsmith asked if his work related to hair straighteners.

Mr Goldsmith said that as the speakers had been represented as experts, he “had the right to ask questions as to whether that’s the case or not”.

Conservative councillor Chris O’Leary told the meeting Mr Tennant was the third member of the public the chair had “been quite rude to”.

After councillors voted to note the petition, Mr Goldsmith raised hair straighteners again.

He said the Friends of Poynton Pool wanted councillors to "dismiss" the advice they had been given by officers and "believe... a man who for the last 35 years has worked for a company making hair straighteners".

This led members of the public to call for an adjournment to the meeting, which was granted.

Speaking outside the meeting, Friends of Poynton Pool chairman Mike Ellison said he felt Mr Goldsmith's remarks had been “bizarre”.

He added: "When he was put straight about it he proceeded to repeat it from his written statement.

“Everything he said was predetermined, it wasn’t influenced by the meeting."

Friends of Poynton Pool member Gwenda Mayers said she was “quite disgusted by the way the chair responded”.

“We’re actually trying to work with the council and we’re being treated like little minions,” she said.

Councillor Goldsmith told the BBC after the meeting that he understood the concerns but that the law was “very clear” on the issue of works on Poynton Pool.

“The safety of the people is paramount and if that means being rude to the campaigners to try and get that safety message across, I think that’s justified,” he said.

“I don’t like doing it, we generally act as a very responsible and open and fair council with that but I think this issue is so serious.”

He added the removal of the trees was “about keeping people safe from a catastrophic event”.

The planning application for Poynton Pool is set to be discussed at a meeting in February.

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