I WOULD like to put on record my thanks and the thanks of others for the high standards of independent journalism that we have seen from your newspaper in the last two years.

Lancaster is currently troubled by a number of controversial events which revolve around the behaviour of the City Council and it is under these circumstances that an independent press comes into its own. There are many thousands of Lancaster residents who now turn the Citizen for reliable information about what is going on in these areas. You are the only reliable source for this information. I am involved with several community groups in Lancaster and am the chair of a residents association (Freehold Community Association) and I can confirm that we are all delighted with your newspaper. We are also under attack from the City Council who have become aggressive in their dealings with us and are devoting large amounts of officer time to producing attacks on those they see as political opponents.

These attacks are increasingly personal and are a source of concern for all of us.

On the positive side we are all committed to a high standard of public debate and accountability and are determined that Lancaster City Council should explain itself fully and reveal all the information that the electorate need to make judgements on its performance. Your role in this is pivotal and I congratulate you on past performance and encourage you on the continuation of the good work.

With very best wishes.

Professor John Whitelegg

Chairman Freehold

Community Ass'n

Derwent Road

Lancaster

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.