A Widnes councillor has vowed to continue campaigning against plans to build on the town’s golf course despite being “targeted” on social media.
Andrea Wall said attempts had been made to “discredit” her opposition to the proposed housing development at Widnes Golf Club by suggesting she had a personal stake in stopping the plans.
The Kingsway councillor said: “Rather than supporting the plan, it’s easier to attack me.
“What some have been doing is making out that I live backing on to the golf club, that I’ve got an ulterior motive, which I haven’t.”
Cllr Wall’s address was removed from Halton Council’s website several years ago after she received threats over a different planning application, but she is understood to live in a different part of Widnes.
She also believes a freedom of information request seeking all the emails she has sent and received on the golf club plans is another attempt to put her off her campaign.
While she has not experienced the same level of harassment this time round, she said there was “a sort of nastiness in the background” that she expected to get worse as the date for a decision on the plans neared.
But Cllr Wall promised she would continue helping opponents of the plans, which would see 255 homes built at the golf club and the course reduced from 18 holes to nine.
She said: “People are really upset, particularly with the timing.”
She added: “I’ve always promised I will help people over the golf club, because it’s always been in the background. People already know my position.”
So far, more than 700 people have commented on the plans, with most believed to be objections.
