Wycombe Council 'decline' FOI request...

bazster

bargepole wrote: »

The local paper, the Bucks Free Press, has been made aware of all the facts and evidence about this, but for some reason has decided not to run the story.

That's astonishing. You'd think they'd love a story about unenforceable parking tickets.

Half_way

Wasnt there a case a while back where the local paper was linked somehow to a PPC, and as a result the paper published pro ppc stories encouraging people to pay the charges

bazster

I've heard it mentioned that some West Country paper is in Armtrac's pocket.

Maybe the Bucks Free Press ain't so free after all.

prjohnsonnn10

Hi Bargepole.thanks for the update........... what was the response from BFP when you sent the evidence etc to them.have they actually just ignored you or did they say ''...thanks but no thanks, we wont be publishing...." ?

soon as i get something back from Robin Evans and co for my latest FOI i will post up here.

bargepole

bazster wrote: »

I've heard it mentioned that some West Country paper is in Armtrac's pocket.

Maybe the Bucks Free Press ain't so free after all.

The newspaper is part of the Newsquest group, which doesn't have any connections to any PPC, and in any event, there is no PPC involved here, WDC are doing it all themselves.


The reporter seemed keen initially when first contacted, but since I sent them the evidence, he hasn't responded to emails or phone calls.


I think it's possible that if "No Need to Pay In Council Car Parks. WDC Parking System Deemed Illegal by Government" were to be splashed across the front page, their reporter might suddenly find himself banned from future Council meetings.

daveyjp

If the Council is controlled by the right you will have no chance with Newsquest.

peter_the_piper

Whys that?

bazster

bargepole wrote: »

The newspaper is part of the Newsquest group, which doesn't have any connections to any PPC, and in any event, there is no PPC involved here, WDC are doing it all themselves.


The reporter seemed keen initially when first contacted, but since I sent them the evidence, he hasn't responded to emails or phone calls.


I think it's possible that if "No Need to Pay In Council Car Parks. WDC Parking System Deemed Illegal by Government" were to be splashed across the front page, their reporter might suddenly find himself banned from future Council meetings.

Exactly, unlike the alleged Armtrac situation I was thinking more in terms of the council's ability to apply pressure.

You could of course always try a letter for their Letters to the Editor page. It might slip past the subbie responsible!

daveyjp

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Whys that?

Newsquest bought Westminster Press which was always a right leaning group, the other interested party in purchasing the group was the owners of The Mail.

One of our local papers is owned by Newsquest and the local Council changes control on a regular basis. The news stories reflect who is in power. Blue the Council is great, Red the Council is responsible for everything which goes wrong.

Hot_Bring

daveyjp wrote: »

Newsquest bought Westminster Press which was always a right leaning group, the other interested party in purchasing the group was the owners of The Mail.

One of our local papers is owned by Newsquest and the local Council changes control on a regular basis. The news stories reflect who is in power. Blue the Council is great, Red the Council is responsible for everything which goes wrong.

I think you'll find you've left Green off that list - look at the Newsquest paper called The Argus and you'll soon discover that Green is ALWAYS worse than red ( although unusually I agree with them ).