Council leader receives threats over recycling vote

Police have intervened after a council leader said he was threatened over decisions to close two recycling centres in a county.

Wiltshire Council leader Councillor Ian Thorn said he received threats following the decision to close household recycling centres (HRCs) in Lower Compton, near Calne, and at Purton.

Mr Thorn said he had received a letter threatening his safety and threats to dump rubbish at his home.

Wiltshire Police said a man in his 60s from Calne was interviewed under caution in relation to the threats and has since been dealt with "by way of community resolution".

In an exclusive interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, councillor Ian Thorn said: "As a result of opponents making the issue highly personalised, I have had a letter threatening my safety and threats to dump rubbish at my home.

"I can deal with it, but I'm not sure my family and children can."

The revelations came as the decisions to close the HRCs became more heated.

During a meeting on the matter on Tuesday, chairman Andrew Matthews, councillor for Royal Wootton Bassett East, had to call for calm and ask members of the public to stop shouting over councillors, who were trying to answer questions and explain the council's position.

As well as the leader of Wiltshire Council, Thorn is also the mayor of Calne, where political rivals have tabled a motion of no confidence in his leadership.

Councillor Tara Fisher, who tabled the motion, said there were concerns over Mr Thorn's involvement in the Wiltshire Council decision to close the Lower Compton Household Recycling Centre.

She added that there was also some concern about Mr Thorn's lack of attendance at town council meetings and working groups.

Councillors have asked for an extraordinary meeting of the full council to debate the motion "as soon as possible".

On the motion to depose him as mayor, Thorn said: "After over eight years serving the people of Calne Central and more recently as mayor, the whole of Calne, undertaking thousands of pieces of case work and working with residents on so many campaigns, I was really disappointed to hear this news.

"However, I look forward to listening to and taking part in the debate and hope I can win a majority of colleagues to my side."

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