A MAN has been cautioned after making death threats against a councillor who voted for a housing estate at Walthamstow Stadium.

The 44-year-old from Walthamstow, who has not been named, reportedly shouted the abuse at Cllr Asim Mahmood at the end of a council meeting last Tuesday (May 8).

Council chief executive Martin Esom described the comments as "a direct threat of physical violence against his family".

The man also later made a "malicious communication", thought to be a phone call or email, to Cllr Mahmood after the meeting.

Police said the man had been cautioned but would not be prosecuted.

The controversial plans for a 294-home estate at the arena in Chingford Road, Chingford, were narrowly approved by a panel of councillors by four votes to three at the meeting in Forest Road's Walthamstow Assembly Hall.

After the decision a small group of furious campaigners ran up to the table where the councillors were sitting and shouted at them while pointing in their faces.

The Guardian witnessed the incident but did not hear any death threats being made.

Ricky Holloway, the leader of the Save Our Stow (SOS) campaign group, which is strongly against the housing estate plans, condemned the threats.

He said: "We do not condone violence or threats of any type."

But in a further twist, Mr Esom has sent a letter to Mr Holloway claiming that he has reported SOS to the police.

It relates to a statement on the SOS website which states: "Saveourstow does not support any threats or violence to anybody. But when you stop democracy and fix voting you ask for trouble."

Mr Esom wrote: "This has also been reported to the police as an implicit threat of further violence and threats."

However Waltham Forest Police told the Guardian it had not received any other reports of threats against councillors or others.

The council and Labour councillors strongly deny accusations of bias and "fixing" that were made at the meeting.

Mr Esom also said in the letter that some of those at the meeting had sworn at councillors and council officers.

He added: "Neither members nor officers felt able to leave the Assembly Hall safely.

"Whilst legitimate opposition to planning applications is a normal part of the democratic process, these actions are completely unacceptable criminal activity and will not be tolerated in any future meeting."

The council says it has asked for police protection at tonight's meeting held to decide on an application for a bus depot at Walthamstow Stadium car park.

Explaining the reasons not to prosecute the man, a Met spokesman said: "Where evidence is available, the appropriate case disposal will be agreed with the Crown Prosecution Service.

"There are some occasions where a caution is jointly considered more appropriate.

"The Metropolitan Police Service follows Home Office guidance in relation to issuing cautions, where we take into account a number of factors, including the victim's wishes, public interest and previous convictions."

Cllr Mahmood, who only spoke a few sentences at the meeting, has been unavailable for comment.

It is not the first time campaigners have been accused of making threats.

Housing association London and Quadrant (L&Q), which is behind the housing estate plans, cancelled consultation events in 2010 after making accusations staff had been intimidated.

L&Q said police had been contacted but the force told the Guardian no complaint had been made.

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