A COUNCILLOR has dressed up as a hedgehog as she was left feeling “prickly” after remote meetings were banned.

The stunt saw Coun Yolande Watson wear the hedgehog outfit as she said the move to end decision-making remote meetings was “ridiculous” and was “putting councillors’ lives at risk” during the coronavirus pandemic.

The independents councillor for Kerne Bridge, near Ross-on-Wye, said travelling was also creating carbon emissions, with the council previously declaring a climate emergency.

A High Court ruling put an end to remote meetings of councils, but Coun Watson also felt the move was reinstating a barrier to people becoming a councillor as it was more difficult to fit in council business around other things.

She felt a more flexible approach would open up the door to more people becoming a councillor, with a “significant number of older people who are retired” currently in the role.

Hereford Times: Councillor Yolande Watson dressed up as a hedgehog during Herefordshire Council's annual general meeting as she was feeling 'prickly' about meeting face-to-face again Councillor Yolande Watson dressed up as a hedgehog during Herefordshire Council's annual general meeting as she was feeling 'prickly' about meeting face-to-face again

She added that it also created a divide between councillors and the electorate, only six people are allowed to meet indoors socially under Covid-19 rules, but 53 councillors could meet at the Three Counties Hotel in Belmont Road for the council’s annual general meeting on Friday (May 28).

“I am appalled and dismayed the High Court has ruled that from May 7 council meetings in England must take place in person,” she said.

She added: “Councillors have been able to work from home which has meant there is less traffic on the road and therefore, less carbon emissions being emitted. Having to travel to attend meetings in-person in the 21st century is so last year.”