A LEADING Thurrock councillor was slammed today after apparently referring to the ward which he represents as “Chaffrica”.
Conservative councillor for Chafford and North Stifford, Neil Rockcliffe made the comment on his page of the social networking site, Facebook.
Cllr Rockcliffe, whom we understand is on holiday wrote: “Is missing being in Chaffrica.”
His facebook page has another entry : “Thinking that the scriptwriters of Eastenders must live on Chafford Hundred… Has all the ingredients.. Murderers, rapists, concerned ethnic minorities, gay men etc, etc…”
Chafford Hundred has one of the fastest growing black and minority ethnic middle classes in the United Kingdom.
The comments have been slammed by anti-racism organisation TRUST.
A spokesperson speaking on behalf of the Chair said: “This isn’t helpful at all. The borough has been red-flagged for community cohesion and we are all working so hard to turn it around.
“Only last week, we saw T-Fest which was a wonderfully successful and unifying event.”
Cllr Rockcliffe has explained his comments. He said: “I call my house Chaffrica. I call it that because my garden is so untidy it looks like a jungle.”
Leading Tories are remaining tight-lipped on the subject. Others have come to the defence of Cllr Rockcliffe.
A source close to the Conservative Group said: “There is Chinatown in Soho, there is Little Italy in New York. We seem to pick and choose when we get hung up on these things.”
Last week, cllr Rockcliffe tabled a motion at full council asking: ” If the Labour group had something against Chafford Hundred?”
Cllr Rockcliffe has been a councillor for several years and until recently was the Portfolio Holder for Transport. He is up for re-election next May. In 2007, he won with a majority of 117.
