THERE were angry scenes as villagers were told there were no immediate plans to close a Halal abattoir they claim is blighting their lives.

Campaigners from Boosbeck, East Cleveland have been fighting for more than two years to get Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council to force Banaras Halal Meats (BHM) to close their slaughterhouse in the centre of the village.

One independent member said the council’s hesitancy in making a decision was caused by fear of a religious backlash after Councillor Mary Lanigan claimed that workmen had been seen kicking sheep heads around the compound.

Speaking at the Borough Council meeting, Cllr John Hannon said: “Are we allowing these children to watch decapitated sheep heads rolling around Boosbeck? The people of Boosbeck and Redcar and Cleveland deserve better.

“I don’t mind being the first person to go on record, we all know what is happening here. There is a certain element of people in this country who we are afraid of, who want their own way - this is Boosbeck not India – and I’m sick of it.”

Last month, councillors said that if the company failed to reach an agreement, they would decide at today’s meeting (Thursday, October 9) whether to pursue a discontinuance order or issue a compulsory purchase order for the premises.

Independent councillor Barry Hunt expressed his sympathy with residents saying they had been let down by the authority.

However, Cllr Steve Goldswain, the cabinet member for community safety, reminded members that despite residents’ suffering, the council was duty bound to follow the law.

Deputy leader, Cllr Sheelagh Clarke said: “I believe we can solve this problem by going down this route (negotiation) far more quickly than going down any other route that could take years to find a resolution.”

Much to residents’ dismay, councillors voted 31 to 13 to continue collecting evidence about the environmental impact of the business, while considering a compulsory purchase order and carrying out negotiations with owner BHM to move business.

However, a separate amendment calling for the slaughterhouse’s immediate closure was rejected by councillors after legal officer Richard Frankland said they could be ‘playing into the hands of the owner’ as the decision would have no legal footing. That led to members being heckled with cries of 'baa' and 'sheep'.

Afterwards, campaigner Neville Brown made his views felt.

He said: “You could hear how angry people were in the meeting – it’s an absolute disgrace. I can’t believe that this business is still going to be able to operate. We want it closing down now, regardless of the cost.”