A council has released a stark message condemning the actions of campaigners after members of a planning committee were allegedly assaulted at a chaotic meeting.

Canterbury City Council last night controversially approved plans to expand Wincheap park and ride onto "precious" water meadows.

A toxic atmosphere hung over the chamber during a heated debate before hundreds of protestors were evacuated when a fire alarm was triggered.

It was during the mass exodus that councillors were allegedly verbally and physically assaulted by angry campaigners.

The city council also states that the lives of staff were potentially put at risk when some members of the public refused to evacuate during the fire alarm.

Authority spokesman Rob Davies said: "The scenes in the Guildhall last night as the planning committee met to discuss the extension to the Wincheap park and ride were totally unacceptable.

"Just after the decision was announced, we understand that one of the protestors set off the fire alarm, requiring us to evacuate the building.

"During this process, elected councillors were pushed, shoved and verbally assaulted by members of the public. Some people also refused to leave the chamber, potentially putting council staff at risk.

"To be clear - we have no issue with protests, but they have to be carried out in a respectful and considerate way.

"Councillors must be allowed to debate the issue without fear of being abused or even assaulted."

Described as a "farce and a stitch-up" by angry campaigners, the contentious decision to extend of the council-owned park and ride by 220 spaces has been blasted as a total contradiction to the authority's recently-declared climate emergency.

The extension will see part of Wincheap's water meadows next to the River Stour concreted over.

But despite the planning committee's approval, yesterday's chaotic events are not the concluding stage. A final decision will now be made by all 38 elected members tomorrow at full council.

Council spokesman Mr Davies added: "This was in direct contrast to the silent, yet extremely effective, protest in the Guildhall earlier in the year on climate change. The two events could not be any more different.

"A repeat of what happened last night will not be acceptable.

"It’s very sad that we should have to be saying this, but we hope tomorrow's debate will be carried out in a different atmosphere.

"Councillors have difficult decisions to take, and they must be allowed to do that without intimidation."

Neither the fire service or police were called last night.

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