Gloucester: Rise in abuse towards city councillors 'has to stop'

Gloucester councillors have denounced a rise in abusive and intimidating behaviour

A councillor has said he received death threats over the closure of leisure centres last year.

Gloucester city councillor Andy Lewis said he was targeted with abuse when GL1 leisure centre and Oxstalls Sports Park closed in September 2023.

He was speaking as the council discussed a spike in abusive and intimidating behaviour towards members.

Councillors agreed to write to city MP Richard Graham and the Local Government Association to highlight the issue.

Mr Lewis said he also received death threats for taking part in a pride march when he was mayor.

"This stuff has got to stop," he said. "We are going to argue and I've got no problem over that, but death threats?

"Some of the stuff I had over Aspire (the trust which ran the leisure centres), even Facebook took down. It was nothing to do with me but I got the blame for it."

He added some councillors had been scared to enter the chamber.

"That should not happen and we should not be harbouring anything like that in this country. We are in a democracy," said the Conservative.

Lead from front

An amendment by the Liberal Democrat group to suggest the training is offered rather than imposed on members was accepted by the Conservative administration, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

Labour councillor Tree Chambers-Dubus said she had experienced an incident that involved somebody else in the council and it was quite threatening.

She said when she reported it to the council she was told "as a councillor you need to expect that".

"The motion is fantastic. But I think the council needs to lead from the front here," she added.