A REDDITCH councillor has dismissed claims she told protesters to move at a Conservative stall.
Coun Emma Marshall, who represents Arrow Valley West, has denied she told ‘Save the Redditch Library’ protestors to leave, saying everyone had the right to a peaceful protest.
Colin Smith has led several campaigns, calling on maternity services to return to the Alex and is now campaigning to stop the library being moved into the town hall.
He claimed Coun Marshall asked him to remove their protest banner.
He said: “I was the only one present at Lodge Park with our 10ft banner.
“Emma very politely asked me not to put the banner up.
“The she started saying ‘we don’t hi-jack and gatecrash your shows’ and asked us to leave.
“Everything stayed calm but I could tell my company wasn’t wanted.”
Coun Marshall claims the incident did not happen.
She said: “I had a chat with the protesters and even offered one of them a coffee.
“I would never have told them not to be there – this country is built on the right to freedom of speech.
“I absolutely protect the right of Colin and the protesters to have their say.
“This claim that I said otherwise is libellous.”
She added Colin and the protesters were frequently at Conservative stalls.
And said she would have her own banner when Labour canvass in the town.
“However this was said as a joke and banter between us.”
