A meeting of Bexley Council in South East London descended into chaos last night after a Conservative councillor claimed that people are cutting the heads off cats in local parks. Another Tory councillor allegedly branded his colleagues scumbags during the heated session.
Extraordinary Scenes at Council Meeting
The extraordinary row erupted as members debated plans to build a Go Ape adventure attraction in Danson Park. The public gallery repeatedly erupted in jeers, with security called as tempers flared.
Conservative councillor Barry Saunders, representing Falconwood and Welling, made the astonishing claim about cats being decapitated, citing it as an issue in the area. The Daily Express has not been able to independently verify this claim.
Numerous sources told the Daily Express that one Tory councillor branded colleagues scumbags as the session spiralled out of control.
Row Over Go Ape Plans
The row centres on plans for the Go Ape site on Danson Park, which campaigners argue is metropolitan open land that should be protected from further commercialisation. However, National Planning Policy and the London Plan allow for facilities for outdoor sport and recreation on such land.
Bexleys Reform group, which surged from zero to seven seats at last months local elections, said it believed there were more grounds to reject the scheme than to support it.
A Bexley Reform spokesman said: It was clear the Tories who stood on a manifesto to stop reform building on green belt are simply disingenuous. The spokesman accused the Tories of allowing councillor Dave Courtois to campaign on a ticket to block the proposal despite having given it glowing approval at pre-application stage in June 2024.
The new facility will take up less than 3 per cent of the entire park, and it is understood that the application makes use of an existing building and would see two tents and a timber-clad storage container built.
Council Response
A spokesman for the local Conservative-run council confirmed that the move was a regulatory decision which considered all views expressed and the applications compliance with planning policies. They added: Danson Park is already home to several water sports, a playground, a splash park, tennis courts, football pitches, and several businesses. Now that the application is approved, Bexley Council will engage with the company to deliver this new facility and secure the best deal on behalf of residents.
