Well Done

I was amazed to find a story in the Rutland Times that for once allowed both sides to speak and for people to make up there own minds about a story to do with Rutland Country Council. Since I have recently been one of many criticising the local press I though it was only fair to congratulate them.

In their recent story about the three councilors they are thinking of taking legal action over not only did the paper give the views of the Conservative run County Council but also those of the three councilors that they wish to prosecute for deformation. So well done to the local paper for taking the right approach for a change, now all we need is some good old fashioned investigative journalism into stories stories pertaining to the council. 

For those that don't know the about the facts behind this story, it was in the national press not that long ago about Rutland Country Council taking legal action against three of the councilors for trying to get information about the dealings of the council by using freedom of information requests and asking questions other council members by email. 

Unfortunately they decided to call themselves the anti-corruption party which seemed to anger the ruling party at the council, as they thing it implies that they are corrupt.  The government have taken a rather dim view of the council trying to use a legal route under the Localism Act to sue the councilors concerned for deformation to shut them up, but if this stops them using anti-harassment legislation remains to be seen. 

The fact is whatever the decision is that is taken at the public meeting you can rest assured that it was made in private before the meeting takes place, like a lot of decisions the ruling party at the council makes, but that is politics for you.

One Sided Story

A few weeks ago I posted a post on how the Local Press in Rutland just go along with what ever rubbish the Council put out without question. A prime example is this report about "Rutland’s tourist bus" that appeared today on the Rutland Times web page.

What this story shows is the way sided view the paper sometimes put out in stories that seem like they are straight from the press releases without any thought to the other side of the side of the story. In this case many residents of the villages that the bus service serves have raised concerns about the service which haven't been mentioned. Finally there is also questions about it lack of passengers, that failed to get a mention.

The story also raises questions about what planet Government are on with the Transport Minister Norman Baker MP saying “The Shorelink bus is a great example of an important connection being made in a small, rural county to help local residents, job seekers and tourists get around." The idea that a service that goes around a man made lake is going to help job seekers is a joke, it doesn't really go anywhere that would be useful for them like one of the larger towns or Cities that are near to the county. Yes, it might be good for tourists and the odd villager who missed a direct bus, but that is about it. If the government really wants to help job seekers then it might have considered a better use for its money like a direct bus to Grantham or another nearby large town.

It would be nice if the local press could report both sides of the stories they publish and not just the view of the Rutland County Council. In order to find out what is really going on and what other people think, for example about the council car parking story, you have read the letters pages of the paper buried deep in the paper or search the web.

Rutland Free Press?

Having sat through a recent annual parish council meeting where there was a lot of discussion about the underhand tactics of Rutland Council and so many than negative comments about the Councillors and their behaviour, it will come as no surprise that the local press got their fair share of bashing.

 

They were acused of being in the pay of the County Council, following the company line as it were, and only posting good news stories and avoiding the issues that really matter to the people of Rutland. It would seem people feel they aren't interested is getting to the bottom of what is going on in the county or questioning those in power. It clear their idea of investigative journalism to read the County Councils press releases.

 

It is clear that not all what is made out to be in the County Council, things aren't what they seem. It is like a smoke screen has been laid and what goes on is hidden from the public view. Only a few trust them and those that do support them and keep them in power, but that isn't the majority but just the selected few that can be bothered to vote. Most people feel they just do what they want and don't listen, so they don't vote. This felling of not listening ;has spread to the local press who are seen as weak and feeble, never questioning and printing Council press releases as good news stories.

 

For example, when the all powerful Rutland County Council when decided to rename the old Ashwell prison as the Oakham Enterprise Park, where was the story that people of Ashwell objected to the name on the grounds it is actually in Ashwell? Another example would be all the good news stories about the Hawksmead development and how people supported it, where was the story about the people of Barlythorpe who never wanted their lovely village to become a suburb of Oakham? If it was ever published than I'm sure it wasn't big as the good news Hawksmead stories and the pictures of handshakes between councillors and company officials.

 

It is about time the local press in Rutland got some courage and spent sometime questioning what Rutland Country Council are doing before it is too late. Rather than sitting around reading press releases, go round the county and ask people what they really think then publish their stories with the same degree or importance. Publish the letters of the people of Rutland and not the political rubbish written into the paper by the councillors.

 

And, finally the reason why this is important now, well Hawksmead are planning to develop North of the ring road. This will not only destroy more land that was used for farming but it will threaten other villages close to Oakham. Let me tell the people from the Rutland Times and the Rutland and Stamford Mercury now, we don't want the nature villages destroyed by Hawksmead and their friends at the Rutland County Council. Come talk us and see the depth of our feelings rather than listening to what comes out of Rutland County Council.