Tapegate! Town council chairman reports residents for criminal damage after they stuck protest sign to noticeboard using sticky tape

A town council chief has denied being 'petty' after a resident who stuck a protest sign on public notice boards was reported to police for alleged criminal damage.

Bernard Arscott filed a report on behalf of Leigh-on-Sea Town Council in Essex after the leaflets appeared in four locations, held in place on the Perspex screens with sticky tape.

Critics labelled the response 'pathetic' – but Conservative council chairman Mr Arscott told the Mail 'industrial strength' adhesive had been used which couldn't be removed with solvents.

He also said the signs – calling for a public meeting to discuss matters including by-elections in nine uncontested seats won by Tory councillors in last year's local elections – were politically motivated.

Bernard Arscott (pictured) filed a report on behalf of Leigh-on-Sea Town Council in Essex

The sticky situation in the seaside town's local politics erupted on Wednesday last week when the signs appeared on the official notice boards. Pictured, the 'damaged' noticeboard which has sparked the 'Tapegate' controversy

Meanwhile, Essex Police have said they are 'assessing' the situation before deciding whether to take action.

The sticky situation in the seaside town's local politics erupted on Wednesday last week when the signs appeared on the official notice boards.

The matter was referred to police within hours, prompting a fresh round of mudslinging.

Independent town councillor Carole Mulroney said: 'We're calling it Sellotapegate here.

'The notices were put up - very, very carefully, so as not to cause damage - with Sellotape, which is quite easily removeable with a little bit of elbow grease. I'll do it myself if it's a problem.

'The whole front [of the notice board] is a Perspex screen. You couldn't put it anywhere else because the edge of the box is not very wide.'

Mr Arscott, 42, whose party holds 13 seats on the council, retorted: 'At first it sounds quite petty but there's an underlying context and someone with an agenda who's caused problems before.

'They used industrial strength adhesive rather than Sellotape. It's left a thick residue.

'To clean it, you need an abrasive which will damage the surface of the Perspex. We did look at whether a solvent could be used but that could damage the Perspex.'

The bill to taxpayers to replace the screens would come to several hundred pounds, he added.

Mr Arscott told the Mail 'industrial strength' adhesive had been used which couldn't be removed with solvents

The matter was referred to police within hours, prompting a fresh round of mudslinging

Mr Arscott also confirmed the public meeting referred to in the signs would take place on May 31, subject to council approval.

The town has become the scene of rowdy public council meetings recently, with attendees holding up signs calling on members to resign.

Police were called to a chaotic budget meeting in January, although they didn't attend in the end after it was shut down early.

Critics of the council say there is disquiet over the dismissal of the last town clerk amid claims of alleged misconduct, concerns about budget priorities, and the issue of the uncontested seats.

Campaign group Looking After Leigh has an online petition calling for the by-elections which has been signed by over 1,700 people.

But a council insider said: 'Looking After Leigh's Facebook group has that many members but we're aware that a significant proportion don't live in the area.

'Really, there's a core of about 30 to 40 people out of a population of about 22,000.

'These are people with a political axe to grind. There are Greens, Labour supporters and there's a correlation with Remoaners – people who disagree with the democratic process.'

A Looking After Leigh spokesperson said: 'It's all such a fib. We ask all the people [who sign the petition] to confirm that they are either in the precept area or the community centre.

The town has become the scene of rowdy public council meetings recently, with attendees holding up signs calling on members to resign

Essex Police have said they are 'assessing' the situation before deciding whether to take action

'A lot of our supporters are Conservative members. They haven't produced a financial report for a whole year, they haven't produced a proper budget and they've suspended staff without giving a reason.

'These things make us worried and it's made Conservatives worried.

'To suggest it is politically motivated is perhaps trying to put the blame on something other than their own ineptitude.'

The spokesperson added: 'The person who put up the leaflets used the same Sellotape they use to wrap their son's birthday presents. Saying it is industrial strength adhesive is just ridiculous.'

An Essex Police spokesman said: 'We have received a report citing a criminal damage in Leigh-on-Sea.

'The information provided to us will be assessed. At this stage, no investigation has been launched.'