I have watched with growing interest recent developments at the Town Hall and noticed too - the coverage by all the local Press. It seems quite obvious to me that there are some serious issues to be addressed and investigated at council HQ and it is even more obvious that it is not going to happen in the Lancaster Guardian - for some reason the paper seems to toe the authority line on every major issue. Whatever happened to standing up for the little man?

This worrying trait is nothing new though I remember many years ago before the Scotforth House scandal broke the paper was very reluctant to publish anything that appeared derogatory to the people in charge. Parents and relatives of people involved were made to feel most unwelcome there despite the issue being well covered by local radio and television and of course, the Citizen. Only when it became irresistible did the Guardian begin to grudgingly provide the support we needed. Even after it was all over and our claims had been vindicated the paper was still reluctant to put stuff in and refused point blank to publish one of our press releases instead they printed a good news story about a new sensory room. If it wasn't for the determination of people involved and the support of one or two decent reporters at other papers I doubt we would have ever got to the bottom of one of the most shameful events ever to happen in this area. Staff at the Guardian may challenge these charges but I have a very clear memory of their behaviour at the time and of course have all the dates, times and cuttings from all the papers.

I encourage you to carry on with your campaign against the council and keep digging to uncover the truth.

Ex member

of POSHAD

Thanks - there is no campaign against the council we try to report all (good and bad) and I'm sorry you met with such resistance from fellow reporters - Ed.

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