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A pub boss who has been a self-confessed “thorn in the side” of the Town Hall was left shocked after a council official asked him if he was suicidal.

Father-of-two Chris Sparks, who has taken a keen interest in the redevelopment of Archway Gyratory, believes his passion on the subject was mistaken for something far more serious by an Islington Council officer during a 30-minute phone-call.

As Mr Sparks expressed his frustration concerning his ongoing struggle with the council, he said: “What’s the point of carrying on?” He also made reference to the location of the pub he co-owns, the Charlotte Despard – near the so-called “suicide bridge”.

The concerned official misread the call and contacted Barnet Council, Mr Sparks’s local authority, whose own social services department made the call.

“I had been working late the night before so I was in bed,” Mr Sparks told the Tribune.

“At 11am I got the call and I was asked if I was going to commit suicide. I stood up in bed – I couldn’t believe this was taking place.

“I have two kids, I work 16 hours a day, seven days a week, I have hundreds of community-spirited friends and customers, I run a community-based, family pub. Why on earth would I commit suicide after fighting for four years?”

Mr Sparks has been at loggerheads with the Town Hall over the effects of Transport for London’s removal of the Archway Gyratory, which the council supports. His main concerns are about safety and pollution in the area and the effect the removal of a loading bay outside his pub will have on his business, as well as what he feels is a lack of accountability on the part of the council.

An Islington Council spokesman said: “We won’t comment on a ­private conversation. Generally speaking, if a council employee has cause for concern about an individual’s wellbeing they are morally and legally obliged to act.”

A Barnet Council spokesman said: “It would not be appropriate for us to comment on any conversation with an individual resident.”