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Complaint rejected that councillor insulted COVID victims by saying losing bike lanes would be a “tragedy”

Green Party politician had been speaking in favour of keeping temporary facility in Brighton & Hove

The local government watchdog has rejected a complaint that a councillor in Brighton & Hove had insulted coronavirus victims by saying that that scrapping a temporary cycle lane would be a “tragedy.”

A member of the public lodged a complaint with the city council after Jamie Lloyd, Green Party councillor for Withdean, used the word at a meeting of its environment, transport and sustainability committee, reports Brighton & Hove News.

One of the items discussed at the meeting last September was whether to keep a temporary cycle lane on Old Shoreham Road.

The council voted to keep the temporary facility, which is protected by wands, albeit with changes at some junctions.

The complainant told the standards board of the council, which is led by the minority Green group, that use of the word was inappropriate due to the effect of the pandemic on victims and their families.

The council’s standards board rejected the complaint and took no further action, so the local resident took the matter to the local government ombudsman – which likewise dismissed it.

In its report, the ombudsman said: “Mr X says a local councillor remarked in a Council meeting that it would be a tragedy for local cyclists if existing cycles lanes were removed from some roads in the area.

“Mr X says this was inappropriate language given the current coronavirus pandemic which he regards as tragic circumstances for the victims and their families.

“The council’s monitoring officer considered Mr X’s complaint but decided that it did not breach the members’ Code of Conduct and did not pursue the matter further.

“There is insufficient evidence of any significant injustice caused to Mr X by the councillor’s remark. It was not personally directed at him or any member of the public.

“It did not refer to any matter other than his opinion of the proposals in the context of loss of a public facility.

“There was no use of inappropriate language which might amount to a breach of the code,” it added.

In January, we reported how the deputy leader of the south coast city’s council, Hannah Clare, also of the Green Party, fell off her bike while using the temporary cycle lane when she was left-hooked by a van driver who cut across her to drive onto a petrol station forecourt.

> Council deputy leader left-hooked by white van man – while riding in emergency cycle lane

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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17 comments

Avatar
Rapha Nadal | 2 years ago
2 likes

Is this being "reported" on because the word "cycle" features?  Tedious link for an absolute non-event. 

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Rapha Nadal | 2 years ago
1 like

You have surely been here long enough to know that cycling is pretty much always the link for these. However I don't think it needed more then a passing mention in the daily blog rather then a full on standalone article. 

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Rapha Nadal replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
0 likes

I've had the racing on this afternoon so am hoping for a full article on my viewing exploits later on. 

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Captain Badger | 2 years ago
6 likes

The fact that that was the worst the complainant could come up with in opposition is quite telling....

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Jenova20 replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
1 like

Captain Badger wrote:

The fact that that was the worst the complainant could come up with in opposition is quite telling....

Some people really do have too much spare time.

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Captain Badger replied to Jenova20 | 2 years ago
1 like
Jenova20 wrote:

Captain Badger wrote:

The fact that that was the worst the complainant could come up with in opposition is quite telling....

Some people really do have too much spare time.

Well pardon-moi, I was only saying...

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brooksby | 2 years ago
11 likes

So the complainant was arguing that you can't call something a tragedy because there's worse stuff happening? I'm not sure that language works like that... 

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AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
8 likes

I suspect it might have been political but it could also been someone who has lost family members to the disease. TBH, what it does show is the council will listen to lone voices and follow a process rather then instantly dimisss it with "it was obviously a joke". 

So credit to the council for following that process. 

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eburtthebike | 2 years ago
8 likes

“Mr X says a local councillor remarked in a Council meeting that it would be a tragedy for local cyclists if existing cycles lanes were removed from some roads in the area."

I do feel that in these unique circumstances, "Mr X" should be identified; anyone capable of making such a meritless, pointless, crass complaint deserves all the opprobrium they should get.  Does Matthew Paris live in Brighton?  Or perhaps it's the UKIP London mayor candidate, Peter Gammons.

What's your guess?

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markieteeee | 2 years ago
9 likes

You would have thought that Mr X would have learned his lesson after his previous ill-fated attempt at taking the Bee Gees to the disco ombudsman. 

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Dnnnnnn replied to markieteeee | 2 years ago
2 likes

It was him...? I didn't realise he was still alive.

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Philh68 replied to Dnnnnnn | 2 years ago
7 likes

Yeah, he's stayin' alive. A voice in the wilderness, with too much emotion 😉

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hawkinspeter replied to Philh68 | 2 years ago
12 likes

In my kitchen this morning, I though I heard an onion singing a Bee Gees track, but when I checked it was just the chives talking

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Dnnnnnn replied to Philh68 | 2 years ago
3 likes

And I thought he had no time to talk...

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brooksby replied to markieteeee | 2 years ago
0 likes

markieteeee wrote:

You would have thought that Mr X would have learned his lesson after his previous ill-fated attempt at taking the Bee Gees to the disco ombudsman

What is this???

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markieteeee replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
1 like

Sorry Brooksby, I'm sure you've sussed this out by now but I was ridiculing his supposed aversion to the word tragedy by thinking of other uses of the word he might take offence with and what imaginary path of complaint he might take. 

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brooksby replied to markieteeee | 2 years ago
1 like

markieteeee wrote:

Sorry Brooksby, I'm sure you've sussed this out by now but I was ridiculing his supposed aversion to the word tragedy by thinking of other uses of the word he might take offence with and what imaginary path of complaint he might take. 

Got it! <slaps forehead>

Ever had one of those days where you Need More Coffee...?

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