Southend councillor receives death threat over road redevelopment
By Rachel Charman
Conservative councillor Anna Waite, who is responsible for transport in Southend, has received a threat of violence from an unidentified member of the public.
Cllr Waite received an anonymous letter from a member of the public who opposes to the redevelopment of Cuckoo Corner, challenging her to a ‘duel to the death’.
Cllr Waite told the Echo that she has given the letter to the police.
She also said: “It’s intimidation. I deeply resentthe personal attacks.
“I find it very unpleasant and worrying.”
The Saxon King in Priory Park (SKIPP) committee, which has set up ‘Camp Cuckoo’ in protest on the site which is to be redeveloped, have denied any involvement in the threats towards Cllr Waite.
In a statement, SKIPP spokespeople said:
“The residents of Camp Cuckoo strongly refute any connection with the individual member of the public who has allegedly issued threats of violence towards a councillor connected with Cuckoo Corner Road Scheme.
“No person on site or directly connected with the Camp has engaged in any such actions.
“Like all right minded people we deplore violence, and would instantly eject any individual from the Camp if they acted, or threatened to act, in a violent manner.
“Residents and committed supporters of the camp are undergoing Non Violent Direct Action Training (NVDA) to ensure that all actions taken during the campaign although active are still peaceful in nature.”
Death threats are never clever and also cause public sympathy to swing to the other side.