Two Liberal Democrat candidates were astounded to discover that stakeboards they had placed along Altrincham Road in Wilmslow have been removed without warning on Wednesday April 27th, by the council.
Oliver Romain, Liberal Democrat candidate for Wilmslow Lacey Green and Chair of Tatton Liberal Democrats, said "A local landowner contacted us to suggest we use their road frontage on Altrincham Road, near the Honey Bee Pub, to promote the Liberal Democrat election campaign.
"We were delighted with the offer and gratefully installed our poster boards a few days later. I placed the boards very carefully to be within the hedge and went back to check on them regularly. I saw no difference between how we placed our boards and how the Conservatives normally place their boards.
"I understand the leader of the council, Wesley Fitzgerald, visited the landowner on Monday and whilst he was there he complained that the signs were the 'wrong colour' and within two days a council officer visited the site and without notice started removing the boards. The landowner rescued some of the boards from the council vehicle and they are in the process of re-installing, however, had they not been watchful the boards may have been disposed of.
"Residents know how slow the council can be to repair pot holes or street lights, but its seems they can spring into action to remove opposition election posters in the council leader's ward whilst turning a blind eye to similar Tory posters. I am deeply shocked and saddened at what will appear to most residents as deeply underhand activity has been allowed to take place during an election and am calling for an immediate investigation."
Craig Browne, Liberal Democrat candidate for Wilmslow West, added "The Conservative Council Group Leader's presence at the site, literally 24 hours prior to this incident, suggests the removal of the boards was politically motivated. To display a poster at election time is surely a fundamental democratic right of any citizen."
Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald confirmed he had visited the farm on Monday 25th April.
He told me "My visit was in answer to a query from the farmer which I was following up. I was trying to help him with a complaint he was making about trespassing on his land, it had nothing to do with the election boards.
"I did not make any comment about the colour of the boards. I merely said that I could not help noticing which party he was supporting in view of the plethora of Liberal Party posters on the front of his property. I did not mention the posters to any council officer nor did I instruct anyone to remove them."
Councillor Rod Menlove confirmed he had reported the boards to highways. He told me "I received information that they were potentially on council land therefore it was necessary, in my capacity as portfolio holder for environmental services, to report it to highways for them to make a decision.
"This happens quite a lot at election time, it happened to me in 2006 when I did some postering and I fully accepted I had made a mistake."
A Spokesperson for Cheshire East Council, said "The highways authority was alerted to the signage on Altrincham Road on Tuesday, April 26. A highways inspector visited the area on the same day and confirmed that the signage was placed on the public highway - which Cheshire East Council is responsible for. On Wednesday, April 27 the signs were removed from the highway.
"A highways officer has spoken to these gentlemen to explain why the signage had to be removed and where this may be re-positioned. The signs have been returned.
"Cheshire East Council deals with all signage (regardless of the message), not authorised to be placed on a public highway, in the same manner.
"No councillors were present for the inspection or the removal of the signage."
Oliver Romain has written to Cheshire East Council to request a full apology for the removal of the signs and the lack of contact. He is also seeking confirmation as to how much time had elapsed between the complaint being made and an officer attending the site.
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