On April 10th I was at Gatwick when I opened my emails for the last time before going on holiday.
There was an email from the Town Clerk saying tht she had received many (how many-ed?) calls emails etc about posts on Town Crier. She had spoken to a solicitor (Who?- ed ) and had an informal chat with the Police previously. She was asking for an apology and for a post to be removed. She didn’t say which post but there was an attachment that I couldn’t open. She also accused me of writing on News and Views and Rants and Chats – something I have never done.
For the sake of a stress free holiday I took down all the posts with a note saying they were removed at the request of the Town Clerk I sent her an email telling her this and saying I couldn’t open her attachment and could she let me know which posts were factually incorrect otherwise I would repost them when I returned from holiday.
The posts she wanted removed were ‘ A profligate council’ and ‘ A Very Cross rebuke’ and ‘Annual Town Meeting’ . I then had another email from the Town Clerk saying although I had taken down the posts I hadnt apologised so she had arranged to speak to the police the next day and to the Council the next week.
Is this the kind of behaviour we want from a paid employee of our Council? Free speech is the basis of any Democratic organisation. Criticism should not be viewed as bullying or harrassment. Otherwise we might as well go and live in Syria.
In the process I’ve lost’ A Very Cross Rebuke’ and the stuff about the Annual Town Meeting’ but I am re-posting ‘A Profligate Council” and I urge you all to read it and take it on board. Lets start an informed intelligent discussion about this . Letters to de@bridgnorthtoncrier.co.uk please.
