Calls for a crackdown on “extreme activists such as Just Stop Oil” have been voted down by a the Green-led Forest of Dean council.

The damage caused to Stonehenge by protesters last month was brought up at a recent Forest of Dean District Council meeting which discussed the incident in which two Just Stop Oil campaigners sprayed the 5,000-year-old Wiltshire landmark with powder paint on June 19.

Councillor Julia Gooch (Progressive Independents) said stronger deterrents should be introduced to prevent such acts of wanton damage.

She tabled a motion calling on the council to request a tougher stance from the Government and for councillors to declare their membership and support of groups such as Just Stop Oil.

“In June, this year we heard of the wanton damage caused by extreme activists to this country’s world-famous prehistoric monument and world heritage site Stonehenge.

“News reports tell us the damage caused may be irreversible. Reports of damage by extreme activists are becoming part of everyday life up and down our country, nothing is sacred, art, buildings, events, and jets to name some.

“Acts such as this are a bad influence on children who learn from the examples adults set.

“I call upon the council to write to the Secretary of State for Justice to implement stronger deterrents for acts of vandalism by extreme activists such as Just Stop Oil and other memberships or associations that carry out acts of the same or similar nature.

“Groups like this are not the best role models for children when acting so abhorrently by causing untold damage whether temporary or permanent.”

Cllr Gooch also said councillors should be reminded to declare their membership of such groups.

During the debate, Cllr Gill Moseley (LD, Newent and Taynton) said the motion was “putting the cart before the horse”.

She agreed the use of vandalism is not a good way to draw attention to strongly held views or to persuade governments to change.

And she recommended publicity stunts like those of Lib Dem leader Ed Davey as a better way of getting the message across.

“If the previous Government had not acted with what I describe as wilful neglect, one could even refer to it as aspects as vandalism then many of these actions would not have been thought necessary.

“I would prefer to urge the current government to proceed with all speed to catch up with climate change mitigation, reform our broken planning system, repair the NHS care system and give local councils the proper funding to do their jobs.”

Councillor Bernie O’Neill (Progressive Independents, Ruspidge) said he would vote against the motion.

He said shocking anti-protest legislation brought in by the previous Conservative government was a “knee jerk reaction against things going on they didn’t like”.

Conservative Councillor Alan Preest (Lydney East) said everyone is subject to the law of the land.

He echoed the words of the judge in the recent sentencing of Just Stop Oil activists who conspired to cause gridlock on the M25.

“They crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic,” he said.

“I’m totally supportive of this. It goes back to those early days when I was in the air force and I saw that nonsense that was going on [with the anti-nuclear weapons demonstrations] at Greenham Common .”

Independent group leader Philip Burford (Hartpury and Redmarley) said he’d back the motion and people should lead by example. He said people in public office should be prepared to declare their views publicly and transparently.

A total of 12 councillors voted for the proposal, 19 against and there was one abstention.