Redbridge Council’s leader has accused a Conservative activist of “playing petty politics” over plans to bring a library and other services under one roof.

Cllr Jas Athwal has accused Barkingside resident Kartik Parekh, who campaigns for the Conservative party in the borough, of “spreading misinformation” and “deliberately creating havoc” by challenging the plans for a community hub in Gants Hill and calling the council’s consultation process into question.

The plans to house a library, police station, pharmacy and council services in a community hub have received criticism since they were first proposed last year.

Mr Parekh says the council never asked the public if they wanted a community hub in the first place and worries that plans are being pushed ahead.

The council, however, has defended its tactics, saying it has gone further than just consulting the public on the plans and is directly involving residents in the community hub’s design.

Cllr Athwal said: “We could sleep walk into the library being closed, but we’re proactively enhancing the service to ensure the services are offered in a single location.

“Doing nothing now means a leader in future will have to make a difficult decision and end up closing services.”

The leader added that he “can’t see what’s wrong” with directly involving the public in the community hub’s design and believes the result will be a centre where all of the community comes together.

He added: “Mr Parekh is a Conservative wannabe councillor, running a campaign of misinformation, trying to spread confusion. He’s playing petty politics with people’s lives.

“He wants us to fail because we’re a different political party. I want to challenge these people deliberately creating havoc. How dare you put the facilities that residents deserve at risk.”

But Mr Parekh is still not convinced.

He said: “Important decisions have been made, residents are getting a community hub with housing and any discussions or decisions involving residents would be immaterial.

“The question of ‘do you want a community hub’ has never been asked, which should have been the starting point.

“I am feeling very disappointed by the leader’s comments. I am a resident in Barkingside and this hub is one that is happening where I live and if I have a concern as a resident then airing those concerns should not be seen as an issue.”

Mr Parekh said he does not believe he is spreading misinformation because all of the information he has used has come directly from council papers, the local plan or the public consultation on the plans.

The Barkingside resident added: “His comments about my political inclination are irrelevant because that is not the issue. The issue is weak communication from the council, followed by a flawed public consultation.”

Mr Parekh said he wants the best for his neighbourhood, where he and his family live and said he always gives the council credit where credit is due.

He said: “When there are positive things undertaken by this council I will celebrate it and thank my local councillors and the leader for doing so.

“All of these comments are coming from the leader against a resident because I am opposing the proposals.

“I can see that services are already stretched and to add more housing will exacerbate the problem further, and these are the views that need voicing.”