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A Lockwood man who shared his opposition to the Grand Depart with Kirklees Council has vented his disbelief after he was paid a visit by the police.

John Whiteing, 60, said that he had been left ‘frightened’ when two plain clothed police officers turned up at his house in North Street to question him about an anonymous letter sent to the council.

The K-Line Travel worker, who lives just metres from the tour route, said that he had previously contacted the council twice in formal writing over planned road closures on July 6 but believed that he was simply exercising his right to free speech.

However, a bizarre incident took place on June 2, when two plain clothes police officers visited him at home to ask if he was responsible for an anonymous and negative letter sent to the council concerning the event.

Mr Whiteing said: “I opened the door and thought that something awful had happened to my mum when they told me who they were.

“Then, when they told me they had come about a letter sent to the council that had been passed onto them to investigate and I couldn’t believe it.

“They said that no crime had been committed but that they wanted to know if I had written it.

“I couldn’t see what was on the letter and told them that I had sent two letters recently stating my opposition to the event but that I didn’t think that was one of them so shrugged my shoulders and gave them a non-committal response.

“They said that Kirklees Council thought I was responsible for it and that staff had told them that I was determined to disturb the race, which I assured them I had no intention to.

“Then they informed me that any further negative correspondence to Kirklees council may result in a further visit from them.”

No expletives were used or threats made in the two letters he sent to the council, which stated that he found plans to close nearby roads, such as part of Swan Lane, Lockwood Road and Albert Street, ‘unacceptable’ and ‘intolerable’.

He said: “I think it’s ridiculous. All I had done was to express my opposition to the tour because I feel like I’m going to be imprisoned but there doesn’t seem to be any freedom of speech when it comes to expressing negative opinions about it.

“The police shouldn’t have the right to be able to do things like this when I have committed no crime and it makes me worried that we are beginning to live in a police state.”

Kirklees district inspector, Ged Sharp, confirmed the visit took place. He added: “Officers attended an address in North Street, Lockwood, on June 2 following concerns reported regarding the content of a document sent to Kirklees Council.

“A man identified himself as the author of the document. No criminal offences were found to have occurred but the man was given words of advice about the document’s content. The matter has now been closed.”

Kirklees Council would not comment on the letters but confirmed that an anonymous letter concerning the Tour de France was passed to the police.

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