A FRUSTRATED councillor is demanding a public apology from Harwich Town Council.

Ricky Callender said he has been “unfairly accused” of being behind controversial cones blocking parking for a theatre show.

Mr Callender, Tendring councillor for Harwich West ward, said his name had been put forward as being involved in a decision to put up traffic cones in Highfield Avenue, Dovercourt.

Harwich Town Council then wrote to him and asked why he “considered it appropriate for Highfield Avenue to have restrictions on its on-street parking” on that weekend.

Mr Callender replied by explaining he had attended a site meeting after residents complained about inconsiderate parking on their road by people using community buildings behind the magistrates’ court, as he was substituting for ward councillor Claire Callender, who was unable to attend.

But Mr Callender said he had no involvement in placing the cones on the road and called for a public apology.

However, his letter, and responses from North Essex Parking Partnership and Tendring Council, were not read aloud at the February 25 meeting and were just “noted” by councillors.

Harwich mayor Alan Todd, on behalf of Harwich Town Council, said there is no requirement for correspondences to be read aloud at council meetings.

  •  Ricky Callender is standing for the conservatives in the forthcoming local elections for Tendring Council in the Harwich West ward. Other candidates are: John Brown (Ukip), Sean Fay (Con), John Hawkins (Lab), Pamela Morrison (Lab), and John Thurlow (Ukip)