In a letter to Chronicle editor Mr Philip Hirst, Councillor Battye says: "I am appalled that you and/or your staff had not the decency to inform me that I, my wife and family and our neighbours were to be the target of protesters at our home.
"Please note that with immediate effect I will not give any interviews to your journalists; there will be no off-the-record briefings; there will be no pre-Policy Committee briefing for your journalists."
Councillor Battye wrote: "The press release which you have in your possession clearly indicated that unlawful acts may be carried out. Immediately in receipt I passed a copy of the press release to the police, who were then able to target resources to a particular time, and not unnecessarily waste officers' time."
Councillor Battye pointed out: "The police arranged video surveillance, a telephone tap, an officer based in our house, and a police vehicle with a further three officers parked outside our home." Councillor Battye added that he has five neighbours aged about 75, and 10 children under 10 who usually play in the street at weekends.
"Presumably their privacy and normal family life was not of concern to you in the pursuit of a sensational story.
Councillor Battye has sent a copy of his letter to all Oldham M.P's, Euro-MP Glyn Ford, all Labour councillors, the Press Complaints Commission and others.
"The recipients will take their own view of the most appropriate way to deal with calls from your reporters" he concludes.
Earth First's press release on the protest, received at the Chronicle on Thursday, says: "On Saturday, February 14, a dozen concerned citizens of Oldham occupied the front lawn of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council leader John Battye. They hung banners from the rooftops and played a round of gigantic crazy golf in protest at the stance over Beal Valley"
Three organisers gave their names and telephone numbers on the release. On Friday, Mr Hirst received a call from an Oldham Council officer, who suggested that reporting a protest at Cllr Battye's home might not be appropriate, and that such protests should be denied the oxygen of publicity.
"We had a friendly discussion about the rights and wrongs of such protests, but there was no doubt that I was being leaned on, though the officer did not mention Cllr. Battye's anger at not being warned about the protest", said Mr Hirst.
"There was no suggestion in the press release that Cllr Battye, his family or neighbours were in any danger. Eco-terrorists don't usually give their names and telephone numbers. In fact, the protest, which lasted less than two hours, was an amicable affair, according to the reporter and photographer there.
"I was astonished that Cllr. Battye took it so seriously but I am happy that the people of Oldham should judge whether we should have breached Earth Firsts embargo and warned him. I am sure that they will write in to let me know.
"As for Cllr Battye's withdrawal of co-operation the briefings and interviews to which he refers are not special favours to be used for punishing the Chronicle when it does something he does not like. They are not lollipops to be haded out to well-behaved journalists and denied to those whom Councillor Battye has decided are naughty.
"The system was set up to enable Chronicle journalist to give readers as much accurate information as possible about what the council is doing. They have a right to that information and if it is not available to them because Councillor Battye believes that providing it is a matter of patronage, then they ought to ask why.
"At he moment we are still trying to get answers to the allegations made by Earth First during the protest - for instance, that the Beal Valley waste disposal licence allows the dumping of low-level radioactive waste and asbestos.