A council has been slammed by one of its own members after the town hall power supply was used for an vigil commemorating Gaza child victims.
Conservative councillor David Meehan said the council had been ‘more loyal to activists than to residents’ after an image emerged of the town hall’s power supply being used for the public address system for a nine-hour event on Saturday, October 4.
Coun Meehan said the supply had been used for ‘a Gaza protest, organised by Friends of Al-Aqsa and Bolton4Palestine’.
During the nine-hour ‘Know Their Names’ event, members of the public read aloud the names of children reported to have been killed in the conflict in Gaza.
Organisers said more than 18,000 children have lost their lives in the region since the start of the conflict.
Bolton Council said that the event was not a protest, that there were no flags on display and no political speeches.
A spokesman added that the council had ‘an obligation to facilitate reasonable requests to hold events in public spaces’.
He said event was subsequently relocated to under the town hall’s portico due to health and safety concerns following forecasts of adverse weather
from Storm Amy.
In a post on social media, Coun Meehan, who represents Little Lever and Darcy Lever, said: “The event ran all day on the town hall steps.
“This went ahead despite the UK Government’s call for no protests following the terrorist attack on Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester.
“The protest was facilitated by the council and even plugged into the town hall’s power supply to blast speeches through a PA system, raising serious
questions about the use of taxpayer-funded facilities.
“This is a disgrace.”
Coun Meehan added that the issue had highlighted questions of civic neutrality, ignoring government guidance and handing public resources to activists.
A spokesperson for Bolton council said: “As a council, we have an obligation to facilitate reasonable requests to hold events in public spaces.
“All groups are welcome to apply to use Victoria Square and can also request the use of an electricity connection.
“We were approached by the organisers of an event called ‘Know Their Names’, a vigil marking two years since the start of the Gaza conflict.
“The event was not a political protest or demonstration but saw a small number of volunteers reading the names of children killed since October 2023.
“This use of public space was agreed weeks in advance, well before the tragic events in Manchester last week.
“The event was subsequently relocated to under the town hall’s portico due to health and safety concerns following forecasts of adverse weather from Storm Amy.
“We note the government’s request that groups cancel any planned protests over the weekend.
“However, as the organisers of Saturday’s vigil made clear it was not a protest, they opted to go ahead as planned.”
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