Newton News came under attack at a recent Council Meeting for printing readers’ “vitriolic” letters on the West Park lakes issue, in particular one that referred to the Council as the “environmental fascist elite”.
The author Ken Robson, did moderate his language and apologised in the following issue of Newton News, but this did not stop the Leader of the Town Council, Bob Fleming, drawing the parallel of fascism in 20th century countries.
This comparison was uncalled for and in using the council chamber privilege, unkind to the correspondent, who was there, and prevented from defending himself.
The threat of libel proceedings against him and Newton News, as the publisher, was surprising as the offending word was used in a totally different context to that of a state’s dictatorial dogma. Ecofascism and environmental fascism are well used phrases these days.
It is pleasing to note that after the row calmed down the Council went some way to meet the objects of the Friends of West Park and indicated a willingness to continue working with the volunteers.
However they must work with the council officers and under their supervision. The letter asking them to stop work only referred to the removal of weed which was causing problems to the lake’s eco system. The backlash from the public was based on the assumption the volunteer work was being stopped completely.
Unfortunately the council did nothing to defend the content of the letter and the row continued for a further two weeks with discontent mounting and abuse of Council staff.
The important message here is that Newton News as the community newspaper must be free to print letters from readers criticising the Council, and express public opinion without fear. The Council as a public body must expect opposition at times and be confident enough in their administration to defend their actions and policies.
It must also be made clear that anything printed in Newton News does not reflect the opinion, or necessarily carry the support, of the proprietors of the town’s community newspaper.
Unlike some tabloids the content of the newspaper is not influenced or affected by our own political persuasion. Our aim is to inform and reflect public opinion without favour. We apologise if we upset people who have differing opinions, but they also have free access to our columns
