A council meeting was suspended last night after a ferocious row about “uni-sex” toilets erupted.
Teignbridge District Council’s meeting in Newton Abbot was overshadowed yesterday after a row broke out about questions over changing facilities at a local sports centre.
Three members of the public asked questions about “uni-sex” toilets, with one claiming she “did not feel comfortable” sharing facilities with “a man, however he identifies”.
She added: “Sex is also a protected characteristic and that is the one that is being ignored.”
Another added: “We have concerns about the safety of women and girls in the female village changing area.
“I also have concerns that the staff will have to deal with this without the proper training and without knowing what they’re dealing with.”
Liberal Democrat Cllr Rosie Dawson, who chaired the meeting, stepped in to stop speakers from making statements on top of their questions, citing the 2010 Equality Act.
She also claimed: “When we start using phrases like fetish towards people, regarding gender, regarding a protected characteristic, it is not acceptable.
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The issue centred around ‘uni-sex’ toilets
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“Using that kind of language will not be tolerated and is not something that should be televised by the council.”
Cllr Alan McGregor accused Cllr Dawson of “misquoting” the Equality Act.
He later added: “Today’s meeting is turning into a shutting-down process.”
Cllr Liam Mullone, from the South Devon Alliance, claimed the chair was behaving like a “teacher” or like the “police” after another member of the public warned Dawson against “interrupting” speakers.
Cllr Dawson was accused of ‘interrupting’ guest speakers
TEIGNBRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL
After sparring with Cllr Dawson, Cllr Mullone said: “I’ve got Tourette’s, it’s a protected characteristic, so shut the f**k up.”
“You’re not protecting people you self-righteous c**t,” he added.
Gasps and table-banging followed Mullone’s foul-mouthed tirade as members of Teignbridge District Council gave a mixed response to his intervention.
Cllr Dawson advised Cllr Mullone to seek some advice, with a member of the public heckling: “I advise you get some advice yourself.”
Speaking to GB News, Cllr Mullone said: “You cannot disconnect my outburst from Tourette’s syndrome. You’ll find it’s very hard for people with Tourette’s when people are bullying and lying. That is what this council does: bullies and hectors people.”
Broadmeadow Sports Centre
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After adjourning the debate for five-minutes to let members “cool down”, Cllr Dawson said: “I’m not here to absorb abuse. You don’t have the right to start verbally abusing me.”
She added: “We’re not going to be discussing any more on that. If people want to put complaints in, please feel free to follow our own policies.”
However, chaos continued as a member of the public followed sparred with Cllr Dawson over her three-minute time limit for a supplementary question.
“You are here to ask a supplementary question,” Cllr Dawson interrupted.
The guest speaker replied: “I am asking my question.”
A guest speaker fired backed against Cllr Dawson
TEIGNBRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL
She added: “I was assured you wouldn’t censor people.”
Addressing the chaos seen in Newton Abbot, Cllr Richard Daws said: “I do not think it is in the remit of the chair of this council to decide how questions are framed.
“I would agree that it is censorship. I would agree that it is a breach of freedom of expression. It is hugely concerning.
“I would rather that this meeting had not spiralled in the way that it did today but I could have told you five minutes in that was the way it is going.”
GB News has approached Teignbridge District Council and Cllr Dawson for comment.
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