A TORY councillor has branded the role of chairman of St Helen’s Council’s planning committee a “poisoned chalice”.

Protesters have been up in arms following the appointment of Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron as chairman of the committee last week.

The criticism stems largely from the Newton-le-Willows councillor’s past comments on social media regarding green belt development and his chequered disciplinary record.

Last December numerous sanctions were placed against Cllr Gomez-Aspron after the council’s standards committee upheld a string of complaints from the public over his conduct.

Despite this, he was put forward by the Labour group and was installed following a vote at the council’s annual meeting last week.

Leader of the St Helens Conservatives, Allan Jones, told the Local Democracy Reporter Service the move is a “strange decision” and said it shows the council does not listen to the people.

“The facts are that only six months ago the standards committee recommended that he was removed from all council committees,” he said.

“Six months later they are not only voting to put him on a committee but are voting to make him chairman.

“So, I suspect that he was the only one who wanted it.

“It is a poisoned chalice.”

Cllr Jones, ward member for Rainford, said he offered to be chairman himself.

He said he knew his offer would not be taken seriously because the council “would not install someone who is opposed to the Local Plan”.

He added that the role of chairman of the planning committee will be “crucial” once the Local Plan is approved.

Cllr Jones said: “The position of the chairman of the planning committee does not have any bearing on the Local Plan – that is to go before full council.

“But once it goes through and applications start coming that is when it will become crucial.”

Cllr Gomez-Aspron declined to comment.