Gillingham mayor Roger Weeks has expressed his fears over what he calls the ‘regular’ verbal abuse now suffered by members of the town council’s grounds team in some areas of the town.

Introducing a health and safety report at a full council meeting on July 22, Councillor Weeks said: ‘I note that it seems to be a regular occurrence now that we are getting verbal abuse towards our grounds team by residents of Bayfields, Barnaby Meadows and I dare say there are others that may not be being reported.’

Hinting that the issue may ultimately need to be reported to the police, Councillor Weeks told councillors that it had to be dealt with swiftly. ‘I don’t want this just to be noted. We don’t just want to leave this to fate,’ he said.

‘There’s a danger of course that this could escalate. And what we don’t want is one of our ground team eventually being assaulted.’

Town clerk Julie Hawkins told councillors: ‘All staff have received safety personal training.’

Councillors voted to refer the matter immediately to the council’s human resources committee to decide upon the best course of action to take.