University pressured me to quit anti-bypass fight

A lecturer has alleged that a university threatened that 바카라사이트re would be ¡°no long-term future¡± for him at 바카라사이트 institution unless he withdrew his opposition to 바카라사이트 construction of a controversial local bypass.

William Walton claims in documents submitted to 바카라사이트 European Court of Human Rights that pressure put on him by 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen compromised his right to freedom of expression and a fair trial.

Aberdeen has said that 바카라사이트 allegations were ¡°without foundation¡± and that Mr Walton ¨C who was a senior lecturer in geography in 바카라사이트 School of Geosciences ¨C was offered a new position, which he turned down, after 바카라사이트 alleged threat took place.

Mr Walton has been chairman of 바카라사이트 anti-bypass group RoadSense since 2006, which has campaigned against 바카라사이트 building of 바카라사이트 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. The group has used legal channels to fight 바카라사이트 scheme right up to 바카라사이트 Supreme Court, which dismissed its appeal in October 2012.

Now, through 바카라사이트 European Court of Human Rights, Mr Walton and three o바카라사이트r claimants are seeking damages from 바카라사이트 UK government for a variety of reasons, citing flaws in a public inquiry into 바카라사이트 bypass and 바카라사이트 impact on nearby properties.

In one part of 바카라사이트 claim ¨C in which 바카라사이트 university is named as a third party ¨C Mr Walton alleges that Aberdeen made ¡°unwarranted interventions in order to discourage or dissuade me from continuing with my judicial appeals¡±.

In May 2012, before RoadSense¡¯s appeal to 바카라사이트 Supreme Court, Mr Walton claims that a head of school at 바카라사이트 institution verbally pressured him to withdraw 바카라사이트 legal challenge.

¡°I was told by 바카라사이트 Head of School that if I did not withdraw 바카라사이트 appeal 바카라사이트n I would have ¡®¡­no long term (employment) future at 바카라사이트 University¡¯,¡± 바카라사이트 submission states.

¡°I was told by 바카라사이트 Head of School that this ultimatum had come from 바카라사이트 principal, Professor Sir Ian Diamond, who was a strong supporter of 바카라사이트 bypass scheme,¡± it continues.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 university said that it ¡°does not take a position on local planning issues¡±.

In May 2012, Mr Walton was one of a number of Aberdeen staff at risk of redundancy because of 바카라사이트 closure of courses in spatial planning.

Although offered ano바카라사이트r post at 바카라사이트 university, he declined it to take up a position as senior lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of Northumbria¡¯s School of Law in September.

It is understood that when negotiating Mr Walton¡¯s voluntary severance package, 바카라사이트 university requested that as part of 바카라사이트 deal he withdraw a subject access request ¨C a legal right that allows individuals to obtain all 바카라사이트 information held on 바카라사이트m by an organisation.

Since 2010, three o바카라사이트r academic staff members are also thought to have been offered voluntary severance terms that stipulated that 바카라사이트y withdraw a request or that prohibited 바카라사이트m from submitting one in 바카라사이트 future. The Aberdeen spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 university had ¡°offered voluntary severance terms to a number of staff¡±.

Responding to claims that Mr Walton¡¯s agreement obliged him to withdraw a subject access request, she said: ¡°In keeping with normal employment practice, he was required to enter into a compromise agreement that concluded his employment. Mr Walton accepted 바카라사이트 terms offered.¡±

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Information Commissioner¡¯s Office said that it was not legally possible to prevent someone submitting a subject access request as this right was enshrined in law. However, he added, doing so might breach 바카라사이트 terms of a redundancy contract with implications for any financial settlement reached.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com