A disabled former soldier has claimed that the county council highways boss “hit” him, while he protested against controversial transport measures.

John Center, who was in the army for nine years and served in Bosnia, spoke out at an Oxfordshire County Council budget meeting last week where he made the allegations against Andrew Gant.

The council critic had a medical incident after sharing his frustration, which he said was caused by stress.

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At the meeting, Mr Center held up an iPad showing video footage of an incident in Summertown, saying: “This is Andrew Gant hitting me outside his house.

“How is that not against the council regulations?”

Oxford Mail: John Center speaking out at the meeting.John Center speaking out at the meeting. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)

Council monitoring officer Anita Bradley said after the speech: “There is nothing in relation to malfeasance in public office that as monitoring officer of this council I am aware of.”

Mr Gant said: “I categorically refute the allegations made and the police have looked into this and decided that no action should be taken.”

The forces veteran also alleged of the county council: “I have reported problems with disability access in this county and you still do not reply to me.”

Oxford Mail: Andrew Gant.Andrew Gant. (Image: Ed Nix.)

He referenced “putting 20mph speed limits up at whatever... cost in Nuneham Courtenay,” and suggested these had “caused many accidents there”.

The council cites research for its transport policies which suggests individuals are seven times more likely to survive if hit by a car driving at 20mph, than if hit at 30mph.

Referring to the Post Office IT scandal, which ruined the lives of many of its staff, Mr Center added: “You are the Post Office, we are the sub-postmasters.

“I question your motives.”

Oxford Mail: Low traffic neighbourhoods have proved divisive.Low traffic neighbourhoods have proved divisive. (Image: Ed Nix.)

He said he had phoned Thames Valley Police to ask whether it was legal for him to protest but had “not received a straight answer” and so decided to go stand on the opposite side of the road with a placard reading “Gant out".

A resulting confrontation apparently led to the arrest of Mr Center.

He said: “I was freezing cold, I was in shock.

“The whole thing is a really sorry tale.

“The police chose who to help and they helped Gant because he was a councillor.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said that following a report and investigation into an incident in Summertown on December 14 at 7am, "the report was filed as no crime had been committed".