November 1, 2019 1.30 pm This story is over 65 months old

UKIP to investigate Grimsby councillor’s “petrol bomb” comments

A spokesman said the party had been unaware of the complaints but would investigate
Councillor Jane Bramley faced complaints last year after highlighting social media posts threatening abuse of travelling communities. Photo: Daniel Jaines

UKIP has said it will carry out a “full and proper” investigation into complaints over one of its councillors’ “petrol bomb” remarks at a meeting about a proposed travellers site.

A spokesman for the party said they were “unaware” of the details of the complaints being made against North East Lincolnshire South Ward Councillor Jane Bramley.

It follows a meeting over two shortlisted locations for temporary travellers sites in Grimsby’s Nunsthorpe Estate where the councillor warned of “World War Three” and said she feared “petrol bombs” were being prepared after reading social media comments.

The remarks sparked outrage from travellers groups – who fear the comments may “agitate community tensions” – and have been criticised by the All Parliamentary Group on Gypsies, Travellers and Roma.

Complaints have been submitted to both North East Lincolnshire Council and the Equality and Human Rights Commission over the meeting.

Angry residents attended a meeting on the Nunsthorpe Estate to air their concerns over a proposed travellers site. Photo: Daniel Jaines

The UKIP spokesman said: “We’re going to look into this very seriously. If there’s any substance to the complaints we’ll be taking action on it but we need to do a full and proper investigation into what she said and the complaints that followed first.

“We’re not aware of it at present so we will have to look into it.”

Councillor Bramley has defended her comments and said she was only reporting what others had said and that she “did not condone violence”.

A designated stopping site for gypsy and traveller communities is legally required under the authority’s local plan.

One of the proposed sites on Torksey Drive. Photo: Daniel Jaines

The five sites proposed, cut down from a 25-site list, include:

  • Former youth club on Wootton Road, Nunsthorpe
  • Torksey Drive and Toynton Road site, off Winchester Avenue
  • Land under the Cleethorpe Road flyover
  • Garibaldi Street car park
  • The car park off Wellington Street

Senior councillors will be asked next week to agree to send the shortlist out for public consultation.

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