The Great Newbury Weekly News Firewall Options

[Andy Capp]

It seems dark forces have descended upon an allotmenteer's ability to get justice from the Newbury Town Council. His campaign thread has been removed.

[Penelope]

It seems dark forces have descended upon an allotmenteer's ability to get justice from the Newbury Town Council. His campaign thread has been removed.

Ahh yes, good 'ole british freedom of speech. so long as you don,t incurr the wrath of the ruling elite.

maybe admin could comment on why they did this (pressure or brown envelope maybe)

[Cognosco]

Ahh yes, good 'ole british freedom of speech. so long as you don,t incurr the wrath of the ruling elite.

maybe admin could comment on why they did this (pressure or brown envelope maybe)

An explanation would have been curteous after deleting to explain the reasons?

Definitley something rotten in the Borough of Newbury!

[Nothing Much]

A blink of an eye and it has gone. I went to turn on a hose at full blast.
Sunday People. Where are you?

A newspaper I had never heard of! ( spoken in the voice of Dame Maggie Smith).

I thought it was a good thread ,perhaps a bit rambling. I am sure it was a support.
I think all posters were within rights to make advice and help available.
Simon Kirby was truly gentlemanly in his explanations.

See Telegraph today for Vic Reeves' shed. Not a patch on Mr Kirby's
ce

[massifheed]

That's pretty crap, isn't it? What harm was the thread doing?

Spineless NWN.

[Bloggo]

That's pretty crap, isn't it? What harm was the thread doing?

Spineless NWN.

Freedom of speech seems only to apply if you agree with the Council.
What a pity that the thread was pulled.

[Andy Capp]

There was some stuff in there that was inappropriate, but one is entitled to call the council what they think they are. It is, after all, the council that started this and are refusing to to be open.

It seems we have our own little banana republic (Newbury Town Council and West Berkshire Council) who control the local press (Newbury Weekly News).

[Sherlock]

I assume the thread was removed because the legal tussle between the Mr K and NTC is still under way. Understandable if so. From what I read, it seemed that Mr K was his own worst enemy so far as this dispute was concerned: he let his libertarian political views cloud the issues.

[Squelchy]

I assume the thread was removed because the legal tussle between the Mr K and NTC is still under way. Understandable if so. From what I read, it seemed that Mr K was his own worst enemy so far as this dispute was concerned: he let his libertarian political views cloud the issues.

So that's ok then.

[Andy Capp]

Simon is his own worst enemy, but due process was not being allowed and the council have done things I would not expect a well run and fair council to do, the main one being that he was offered a contract that was materially unfair as it contained a gagging order clause that would prevent him from being able to say anything untoward about the council without approval from the highest level.

IF Simon had broke the tenancy agreement, they should have taken him to court, and the failure for them to do so tells me that they were not confident about their position.

[Sherlock]

So that's ok then.

Not with everyone, obviously, but you can't please all the people etc.

All disputes like this cost time and money and given Mr Kirby's refusal to pay (probably the biggest. although not the only, tactical mistake he made) the council were bound to pursue this. They haven't handled it as well as they might have done either so there are faults on both sides, but to portray this as a fight between a noble and hard done by citizen and an incompetent and cynical council is wrong.

[Andy Capp]

...to portray this as a fight between a noble and hard done by citizen and an incompetent and cynical council is wrong.

I see it as a fight between a vociferous hard done by citizen and an incompetent and cynical council.

The council have bottled it under the disguise of financial prudence, yet in doing so they have brought themselves into disrepute. Take Simon to court and lets hear both sides of the story.

[Squelchy]

Not with everyone, obviously, but you can't please all the people etc.

So who HAVE the Council pleased with their (possibly illegal) behaviour?

All disputes like this cost time and money and given Mr Kirby's refusal to pay (probably the biggest. although not the only, tactical mistake he made) the council were bound to pursue this. They haven't handled it as well as they might have done either so there are faults on both sides, but to portray this as a fight between a noble and hard done by citizen and an incompetent and cynical council is wrong.

Nobody seems to be suggesting any such thing. Although, now you mention it, "an incompetent and cynical council" certainly seems to sum up one side of the dispute.

[Guest_jaycakes_*]

Sorry NWN Forum, I think your Admin tactics are pretty good in general (eg you just leave it unless it's very rude) but removing Simon's thread is wrong and especially if the Newbury Council pressed you to remove it, you should have said no!!


Like Cartman, screw you guys (council not forum admin), Imma goin home.

[Andy Capp]

Sorry NWN Forum, I think your Admin tactics are pretty good in general (eg you just leave it unless it's very rude) but removing Simon's thread is wrong and especially if the Newbury Council pressed you to remove it, you should have said no!! Like Cartman, screw you guys (council not forum admin), Imma goin home.

It wouldn't surprise me to find the council might have complained, but it is also possible that the NWN's own legal warriors might have bottled it too.

[Andy Capp]

So who HAVE the Council pleased with their (possibly illegal) behaviour?

A small clique of West Berkshire councillors by the looks of it.

[Squelchy]

A small clique of West Berkshire councillors by the looks of it.

Funnily enough, at least one Councillor sits on both Councils. No names, no pack drill. (Cllr Howard Bairstow)

[Andy Capp]

Now you've blown it; the NWN's legal eagles will be swooping any time soon!

[x2lls]

OK, so this is a FREE forum, but there is such a thing as common courtesy. Admin, are you not able to offer some explanation as to why the thread has been removed?
Personally, I think it stinks of an attempt at keeping loud voices quiet. And where's Mr Garvie view on all this?

There MUST have been discussion between NWN and the council in some way. The very fact that the thread is dead is proof that it has been discussed at great length. You don't take this action without it.!!

[Cognosco]

I assume the thread was removed because the legal tussle between the Mr K and NTC is still under way. Understandable if so. From what I read, it seemed that Mr K was his own worst enemy so far as this dispute was concerned: he let his libertarian political views cloud the issues.

Yes who would have the audacity to disagree with NTC? He was his own worst enemy fancy speaking the truth.

The point you miss is that even after numerous requests for information non was forthcoming from NTC.
You would have thought the NWN would be clamouring for information on Council meetings not helping to keep them secret.

Forget Simon for a moment what has happened to transparency and freedon of speech in Newbury?
Why will councillors not talk with their own electors?

I would have thought it would be the duty of every taxpayer to want to find out the truth?
Would you be happy for it just to go away? Are you sure the council have nothing to hide?
I don't know for sure nor does anybody else, as the council are saying nothing and never have, how we will ever know now?
It leaves a very bad smell hanging over the politics in Newbury!