Tory councillor 'sorry' over Facebook 'Chaffrica' jibe

A Conservative councillor in Essex has apologised for any offence caused after he described the ward he represents as "Chaffrica" on Facebook.

Neil Rockliffe added: "Thinking that the scriptwriters of Eastenders must live on Chafford Hundred...has all the ingredients...murderers, rapists, concerned ethnic minorities, gay men etc, etc...."

Mr Rockliffe, who represents Chafford and North Stifford on Thurrock Council, said he had removed the posts.

The BBC has seen a screen grab of Mr Rockliffe's Facebook page.

Speaking to BBC News, Mr Rockliffe insisted that the reference to "Chaffrica" was a comment about his garden, and how overgrown it is.

He added: "The comment had been blown out of all proportion and taken out of context. It wasn't a public comment and I'm not a career politician."

Asked to respond to his references to "murderers, rapists, concerned ethnic minorities (and) gay men," the councillor said: "If you look at the date of the Eastenders comment on Facebook and the episode that went out that night, they were issues in part of that programme."

He said he did not know how the remarks could have got into the public domain but he said they had now been removed.

He said: "I apologise for any offence caused."

Speaking before he had managed to speak to Mr Rockliffe himself, Councillor Garry Hague, the leader of the Conservative group on Thurrock Council, told the BBC: "We are taking this extremely seriously, we will take whatever action is necessary."

A spokesperson for the council refused to be drawn on the matter, but did acknowledge they were aware of it.

Thurrock Council is run by the Labour Party but there are 23 Conservatives on the council, and one councillor from the BNP.

Residents in Thurrock asked to choose leader or mayor

Residents in South Essex (Thurrock) are being asked to decide if they want a council leader or a mayor.

People in Thurrock must decide who will preside over a governing cabinet so arrangements are in place by May 2011.

Both options would see the election of an individual who would then appoint a cabinet of up to nine councillors.

The leader and cabinet option is similar to the council's current structure. Both council arrangements would run for a four-year term. The council would not be able to remove a directly-elected mayor from office.

Short consultation

Under this system, the title of civic mayor, as Thurrock has at present, would disappear.

The council would be able to remove the leader from office and a civic mayor would continue to be appointed annually to carry out ceremonial and other duties.
Thurrock Council has launched a short, six-week online consultation which will feedback the public's initial thoughts and opinions to the council and cabinet.

A more detailed consultation will be held later in the year.

Tesco Think 25 Policy

BBC News report (Friday 27 March) that Tesco is set to adopt a new "Think 25" campaign to replace its "Think 21" campaign.

"This means that if a customer looks under 25 and does not have appropriate ID, they will not be sold alcohol in our stores."

Prior to this Tesco had been operating a "Think 21" policy.

Hopefully when implemented this will reduce the issues about underage drinking in and around the station area.