A CONTROVERSIAL remark suggesting Maidstone would have been better off if a shopping centre was hit by a terrorist attack, has outraged councillors and been dubbed “offensive”.

In an uncharacteristic outburst at Maidstone Borough Council’s planning committee, Cllr Clive English (Lib Dem) shocked the chamber with his criticism of one of Maidstone’s long-standing shopping centres.

During a discussion on an application to extend The Mall Chequers shopping centre, Cllr English said it was a pity the IRA did not deal with it the same way they did the Arndale Centre.

The Irish republican group detonated a bomb outside Marks & Spencer at the Manchester-based shopping centre in February 1996. Two hundred people were injured, most of them hit by flying glass.

After the meeting Cllr English said his comments had been misunderstood in the context of a wider statement intended to stress the need for a revamp of the “spectacularly ugly” building. He said in no way was he inciting terrorism.

Committee chairman Cllr Richard Lusty (Con) said, despite calling on Cllr English to retract the comment, he failed to do so. The application was subsequently approved by the committee.

Describing the comment as “insensitive” to those who had no knowledge of the re-styled Manchester shopping centre after the bombing, Cllr English said: “The joke has clearly not been understood as it is in Manchester. It was not meant to be a serious expression that I wanted anyone to blow up the Chequers. All I was trying to stress was that it is a spectacularly ugly building that needs a fair bit of attention and some serious work.”

Speaking afterwards, Cllr Lusty claimed it was said in the “heat of the moment” and Cllr English may not have heard his request for the retraction because of the ongoing debate among members in the aftermath.

“I felt it was offensive to the people of Manchester but members are entitled to voice their own opinion,” said Cllr Lusty, who originally hails from Manchester.

“He was making a point and felt very strongly about the debate and, in the heat of the moment, he said something he would not normally have said. It was a difficult meeting and very hot.”

Cllr Daniel Moriarty (Lab), who also sits on the planning committee, condemned the outburst, adding: “The comment was totally uncalled for and should not have been made.”

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