18th December 2005

On 13 December you published a column by Paula Smith under the heading ILLUMINATING INSIGHT INTO CIVIC BLUNDERS that criticised Councillors for the new Christmas Decorations in Gloucester and the anti crime sign in Stroud.

As Mayor of Stroud it is not for me to comment on Gloucester's lights. However I can assure you that Stroud Town Council had nothing to do with the sign in Stroud, it was placed in the middle of the town by the Police without prior consultation.  As soon as it appeared Stroud Town Council arranged to have it covered up until a more suitable message was displayed in the daytime. We have received numerous complaints from the public and traders, with whom we sympathise.  I have also written to the Chief Constable to request that should the Police wish to repeat this intrusive and inappropriate idea they should consult on the size, siting and message. Two Stroud Town Councillor's organised a petition to have the sign removed; a story you published the day before Paula Smith's article appeared.

I am somewhat surprised that you should have published such an inaccurate article as I had explained our position to one of your Stroud reporters just after the sign appeared. I know that reporters are very  busy and have to meet tight deadlines.  I assume that is why Paula Smith appears not to have done much research such as: talking to colleagues or a Stroud Town Councillor;  reading the lead story of the previous week's Stroud News and Journal or even glancing through your own edition from the day before!

Yours Faithfully,

Kevin Cranston
Mayor of Stroud

Additional comment from Philip Booth, Press Officer for the Gloucestershire Green party: "The possibility of new owners of the Citizen raises additional concerns that cut backs will be made leaving reporters with even less time to check their stories."

Read: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2095-1902620,00.html