A COUNCILLOR claims he has been gagged from speaking about controversial parking restrictions during the Olympics.


Chingford Green representative Thom Goddard said Waltham Forest Council has prevented him from talking publicly about controlled parking zone (CPZ) proposed for roads within half a mile of Chingford railway station, in Station Road.
 

The scheme was withdrawn at the last minute at the request of Cllr Goddard and his colleagues councillors Michael Lewis and Andy Hemsted last month.
 

When the Guardian questioned Cllr Goddard about the scheme, he said: "I can't talk about this any more, I've been legally challenged by the council so I can't speak about it."
 

He claimed he is being investigated for his reaction to council officers after the authority announced the CPZ had been ditched.
 

The ward councillors insist they acted on behalf of residents when they asked for the scheme to be withdrawn, although they accept opinion is divided in the community.
 

Cllr Lewis said: "We were overwhelmed by requests from 900 or so people who didn't want it. I still receive emails saying thanks for withdrawing it and some questioning why it was withdrawn. It's a mixed reaction but we acted on the overwhelming requests we had at the time."
 

Waltham Forest Council said it was not aware of an investigation into Cllr Goddard's conduct.
 

Cllr Goddard was criticised earlier this year after he said a barricade at the Dale View traveller site in Essex would "make a good game of human kerplunk."