Death threat allegations in Luton red route row

The council’s executive committee is due to meet tonight (Monday, September 7), although it remains unclear for now whether the red route trial will be added to the agenda as the Labour group is faced with losing its mandate in a week’s time.

If a package of LBC highways department measures to ease congestion through Bury Park and improve pedestrian safety are considered again, the decision to persist with putting double red lines along a stretch of Dunstable Road is expected to face more objections.

Any decision not to include the item on this evening’s agenda could spell the end of the proposals for the foreseeable future, with opposition councillors demanding better enforcement of current parking and traffic restrictions instead.

The extraordinary council meeting heard Labour Dallow councillor Alia Khan refer to an important issue “since the whole debacle started” and criticise “some of the tactics” used by opponents of the highways proposals.

“How nasty this has been and how it’s turned personal against some members that have supported the project and tried to front it,” she explained.

“To be frank, I’m sick and tired of how dirty it’s got. Does it have to be this nasty? People have felt unsafe. There’ve been an absolutely abhorrent social media campaign against this. My colleagues have had death threats.”

Independent Alliance Group Beech Hill councillor and town mayor Javed Hussain intervened to say: “Unless you’ve got facts. you need to keep it to today(‘s agenda).”

Councillor Khan replied: “This is factual. Bedfordshire Police are aware. It’s more of a plea to please keep it respectful.

“You’re allowed to hold us to account and ask questions, but to turn this personal and into a social media hate campaign against certain colleagues isn’t fair.

“As a young woman, I felt very unsafe at times. Just be respectful, as there’s no need to be nasty.”

Liberal Democrat Vauxhall councillor Lee Bridgen said: “I’d like to address and echo that point.

“We all went to the trouble of campaigning to be elected to represent our local communities. Whether we agree with our opposition or not, we’re all doing thisfor the best possible reasons. Any personal abuse has no place and is totally unjust.”

Conservative Poets councillor Aslam Khan added: “On a serious note, this council has zero tolerance for hatred and there’s no place for hate in this chamber or outside here.

“We have the deepest of respect for each of the members here. I don’t recall at any time being abusive or disrespectful of one another. There are serious and heated debates, and that’s for the betterment of our town.

“If there are any cases, they should bereported to the standards committee. That’s a body which ensures that those people who incite hatred are held accountable and proper action is taken.”