Injunction sought against former Burnley council candidate

A former council candidate could be barred from town hall meetings if an application for a county court injunction is successful. Borough council chiefs in Burnley have formally applied for a court order which would prevent British National Party member John Rowe, 52, from attending the local authority’s meetings in future.

The announcement comes as Rowe, of Tennis Street, Burnley, was convicted of causing criminal damage to a fire alarm at the town hall in May. Following the incident, a Burnley full council meeting had to be temporarily suspended as councillors, officers and Mayor, Coun Ida Carmichael, had to be evacuated from the town hall.

Rowe, then of Cowper Street, was originally issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice regarding the offence, which he refused to pay. As a result he was summonsed to appear before Burnley magistrates where he pleaded not guilty to the offence. But he was convicted after a trial and conditionally discharged for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Rowe failed to appear in court on one occasion and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was detained by police while attending another Burnley full council meeting. He also attempted to attend a subsequent full council meeting in October but was turned away at the town hall entrance by police.

The council meeting disruption was condemned at the time by police and council chief executive Steve Rumbelow.

Court officials have confirmed that Rowe, who unsuccessfully stood as a BNP candidate in Rosegrove with Lowerhouse in 2007, intends to appeal against the magistrates’ verdict. But it has now emerged that council officials are taking legal steps to permanently exclude him from town hall meetings.

A Burnley council spokesman said: “We are in the process of applying for an interim injunction against Mr Rowe.”

For the hearing, later this year, Mr Rowe is understood to have called a number of witnesses, including council leader Coun Gordon Birtwistle.

Mr Rowe was unavailable for comment last night.

Lancashire Telegraph

Arrest warrant issued for Burnley politician

 

The BNP's John Rowe, smirking as he's nicked for being a moron

A warrant has been issued after a political campaigner failed to attend court over allegations that he used a fire alarm to disrupt a town hall meeting.

Councillors and Burnley Mayor Coun Ida Carmichael, along with chief executive Steve Rumbelow and his directors, were forced to abandon the town hall after the alarm interrupted a full council meeting in May. Rowe, formerly of Cowper Street, Burnley, was later arrested by Lancashire Police and taken to the town's police station for questioning after allegedly being found trapped inside a town hall compound, following the incident.

Police later issued British National Party council candidate John Rowe, 52, with an £80 fixed penalty notice, in relation to an offence of criminal damage.

Rowe was summonsed to appear before Burnley Magistrates Court, to face a full criminal hearing after he was alleged not to have paid the charge. His case yesterday had originally been adjourned from August 11, to enable him to attend court. But when he did not appear magistrates issued a warrant backed by bail for his arrest.

Following his arrest in May, Rowe said he would be seeking legal advice about the matter, claiming that the council's chief executive had acted illegally in barring him from the authority's meetings. Council sources have previously confirmed that Rowe can only attend meetings with prior written consent, following a number of angry stand-offs at previous council sessions.

Police and council bosses hit out after the incident in May, saying that vital resources could have been diverted from a genuine emergency.

Rowe has twice stood unsuccessfully for the Rosgrove with Lowerhouse ward on Burnley council. His first attempt for political office ended in an High Court battle, after the BNP candiate tied with Labour councillor Paul Reynolds. Law lords rejected his claim that a single vote, cast in Coun Reynolds' favour, should have been discounted as it was marked with a diagonal stroke instead of a full 'X'.

Lancashire Telegraph

Police called to Burnley council meeting - BNP candidate sets off fire alarm

John Rowe - yet another BNP criminal and idiot

A British National Party council candidate has been fined for setting off a fire alarm which caused a Burnley town hall to be evacuated.

Political campaigner John Rowe, 52, had been barred from attending a meeting of Burnley's full council when the drama unfolded. Moments later the fire alarm sounded and new Mayor Coun Ida Carmichael, who was taking her inaugural meeting, and fellow councillors were asked to clear the building.

Council insiders said that Mr Rowe had tried to escape via a fire exit but had found himself trapped in a courtyard inside the town hall complex, where he was later found by council officers. Mr Rowe, of Cowper Street, Rosegrove, was later issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice for criminal damage. But he remained defiant about his stance following the incident, amid criticism from police and political rivals.

Mr Rowe said: "I think it is completely improper and there is no justification from barring me from council meetings, and prevent me from council buildings."

He says that he will be seeking legal and political advice over the situation but that the matter "might just die a death".

Mr Rowe has accused council chief executive Steve Rumbelow from excluding him for "political reasons". He says that if the chief executive or council wanted to bar him from their premises then they would need a county court injunction.

"The did not do that because they know perfectly well that it would not have been granted," added Mr Rowe.

Following the town hall incident, Mr Rumbelow said: "It is not the disruption to our meeting that concerns me so much as the fact that this mindless act risked lives in other parts of Burnley; our emergency services could have been needed elsewhere. This completely irresponsible act wastes taxpayers money and has put lives of Burnley folk at risk."

Sgt Martin Selway, of Burnley police, added: "The police will take false alarms extremely seriously. Not only does it disrupt police and the fire service but it cause unnecessary disruption for member of the public and potentially puts lives at risk."

A spokesman for Burnley council's ruling Liberal Democrats said: ""People were shocked by Rowe's behaviour. We now know that he did not intend to endanger life directly, but he must realise that his hoax has put lives at risk by distracting the fire service and police from essential duties. In addition to the risk, there is also the cost. Around six police officers and a fire crew attended the building. Forty councillors, the mayor, at least seven council staff plus members of the public all had their democratic business suspended and were forced to wait outside for the all-clear. How such a man is considered by the BNP as a suitable candidate for a public election is beyond us."

Burnley Citizen