The chair of Alsager Town Council had to repeatedly remind councillors to treat each other with respect, following accusations that councillors were subject to slanderous comments online from their fellow elected representatives.

Cllr Michael Unett was amongst several councillors, who recently felt they could not decide on the Alsager Partnership's funding request, due to the conflicting information and difference in opinion coming from both the organisation and the Partnership Review Panel.

But he felt there was a lot riding on the decision, with the potential of the partnership stopping or the review panel dissolving.

A meeting between the town council and the partnership to iron out issues was arranged and was subsequently deemed "productive".

Speaking at last night's Alsager Town Council meeting, the Labour councillor accepted that members of the review panel might not have agreed with the proposal to delay deciding on the level of funding the partnership would receive.

However, Cllr Unett claimed he did not expect to be "accused" online of "climbing the greasy ladder of local politics" and be labelled a "turncoat".

He was also allegedly referred to along with other councillors as "misogynists and bullies" all because he claimed the town council proposed making an informed decision later and resolved issues between the two parties [Alsager Partnership and Alsager Town Council].

Cllr Unett said: "I can take disagreement and criticism, but I do not take kindly to abuse online.

"I would urge all councillors and others in everything the council does to think about our behaviour, the language which we use in meetings, outside and online.

"That we try to find common ground, always work together and where we disagree to debate those differences with respect and civility and to come to informed decisions in the best interests of the only people who really matter and that is the residents of Alsager."

Cllr Derek Hough wanted to make it clear that it was not himself who made the "misogynist" claims towards Cllr Unett.

Responding to Cllr Unett's claims, Cllr Jo Dale said: "If he [Cllr Unett] has got an issue with things councillors have said on their personal Facebook pages, then he might want to take it to the monitoring officer."

Cllr Rod Fletcher, chair of Alsager Town Council, said: "I think we should all show respect to one and other."

Cllr June Buckley, a ward councillor for Alsager, claimed that she was "lambasted" by other town councillors online, when the Lodge Road active travel scheme was implemented by Cheshire East.

Town councillors and residents had previously expressed their disappointment that Alsager's ward councillors had not notified the community before the scheme was introduced, even though they received a generic email containing a press release about the planned schemes.

Cllr Buckley said: "The email was not addressed to me personally and I really did get a big shock when that road scheme turned out to be as contentious as it was.

"We were in the middle of a lockdown; everything was a bit strange and I really do feel that it has been a bad scheme which has proven very unpopular."

Alluding to Cllr Unett's comments about being verbally attacked online, Cllr Buckley told the meeting that she had experienced similar scathing comments.

Cllr Buckley added: "I have not bothered to make any comments about bullying because I am on the council, I think it's just what happens.

"I try my best not to make comments about other people or councillors and I am aware that I have to act with a degree of decorum.

"Quite often when I post something in a Facebook community group, I do it to inform residents, not to enter into some sort of internet slanging match.

"I really did get attacked very, very badly and I know some town councillors were quite happy to see me be lambasted and I have not bothered to moan and groan about bullying because sometimes you just have to toughen up, have a bit of grit and get on with it."

Later in last night's meeting Cllr Julian Goodrich agreed with a comment by Cllr Sue Helliwell that the piece of "scrub land" near St Gabriel's Primary School, should not be turned into a car park, but instead left as public open space.

Just after Cllr Goodrich stated that he "agreed with Cllr Helliwell", Cllr Hough started laughing.

Cllr Jane Hearne pointed out that Cllr Fletcher told members earlier in the meeting to treat each other with respect and she felt Cllr Hough's behaviour was "disrespectful".

Cllr Fletcher responded: "Sorry, I did not notice that."

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats then reiterated his calls for town councillors to treat each other with respect.

Cllr Unett highlighted that Cllr Fletcher's pleas had already been broken, which indicated that slanderous comments had been made on social media during the meeting about a town councillor.

Cllr Fletcher commented: "Oh dear, some people should hang their heads in shame."

Cllr Hough responded: "But not Cllr Hough."

The Liberal Democrat councillor then left the meeting before saying: "Cheerio, apologies for laughing [whilst laughing]."

The town council's next meeting is scheduled for 5th January 2021.