A ROW has broken out after the leader of St Helens Council described a green belt campaign group as ‘nimbys’ on social media.

The Twitter post was written at 1.40am yesterday, Wednesday, April 26, following a discussion stemming from a comment from Rainford Action Group on greenbelt land.

The post was in response to a photograph, posted by the group two days prior, of a farmers’ field that the group say has been allocated for new homes.

Cllr Grunewald’s response said: “As I say you are #nimbys it's ok to build just not in my back yard. Time will tell if plan is accepted or not.”

Nimbys is a term referring to a person or group which objects to the siting of something perceived as unpleasant or hazardous in their own neighbourhood.

The comment has prompted an angry response from campaigners, who have asked for him to apologise.

However, Cllr Grunewald, who has recently returned to his role following a period of illness, has stood by his remarks.

He told the Star: “People forget that as a council we have had £90m cuts.

“We must do something to bring in money. I support jobs and investment any day over nimbyism.

“What is forgotten is that it is not the council forcing people to sell.

“I don’t sit in planning so it's not my call to make, but jobs and investment must come first.”

James Wright, chair of Rainford Action Group, responded by saying: “We think this behaviour is unworthy of the man who leads St Helens Council.

“He is paid by council tax payers and in return insults them with late night social media slurs.

“We’re ordinary working people deeply concerned about his council’s plans for Rainford and the rest of the borough.

“We live in a democracy. We should be able to express our objections without being called names by the man in charge.”

St Helens Council has drawn up initial proposals to take seven large sites in Rainford out of the green belt and allow developers to draw up plans for industrial units and at least 1,140 houses.

Rainford Action Group has been campaigning on the issue since the end of last year, with other groups across the borough also campaigning on similar issues in their respective areas.

Rainford Cllr Allan Jones, added: “I find the comment of Councillor Grunewald appalling and I call for him to remove the comment and apologise to the good people of Rainford.”