Below are summaries of the latest complaints involving the regional press which have been resolved between the parties involved, with help from the Press Complaints Commission.

Wigan Evening Post
Trevor Beswick, of Wigan, complained on behalf of his wife Coun Jean Beswick that two letters had been published giving the misleading impression that her vote in favour of giving planning permission for a golf course and marina was an effective vote in favour of extra traffic on Cale Lane. He said that Coun Beswick was not “in favour” of extra traffic on Cale Lane because the hard core for the development would, in any case, have to travel in that direction. (Clause 1).

Resolution: The newspaper published the following clarification which the complainant accepted as a resolution to the complaint:
“A letter published in the Wigan Evening Post, on December 28, 2007, stated that Coun Jean Beswick, in voting for the New Springs marina project, was in favour of ‘the sanction of 80 more wagons to be able to use the road in connection with the new golf course and marina’.
“Coun Beswick believes that this letter meant that she had, in effect, voted for more traffic on Cale Lane. Another letter from Coun Hilton published on January 12, 2008, reinforced that claim. In fact, Coun Beswick insists that the hard core produced on the industrial site has to go along Cale Lane whether it was going to a nearby marina site or elsewhere and that there will be no difference in the amount of traffic on Cale Lane. Coun Beswick has asked us to point out that she is sympathetic to the problems of the Cale Lane residents and has always been active in trying to improve conditions. We are happy to clarify this.”

Yorkshire Evening Post
Mark Simpson complained that a comment piece about an incident in which the fire service interrupted alleged sexual activity on the Downs in Bristol contained inaccuracies. (Clause 1).

Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following letter from the complainant:
“In John Thorpe’s column of October 11 last year, he held up the story of Avon firemen disciplined for their unexplained presence and behaviour late at night on a part of the Bristol Downs known for straight and gay ‘dogging’, or outdoor sex as a ‘disturbing’ case of ‘political correctness’. Important facts of the case, however, were disturbingly incorrect. Since reform of the law in 2003, outdoor sex is unlikely to break the law if there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.
“The piece failed to mention this, and instead asserted that the law had been broken – despite the alleged sexual activity occurring in a remote place, at night, in the bushes. Moreover, it is very dubious and certainly not a fact that any sexual activity was witnessed at all, let alone an ‘orgy’. No member of the fire service or the public complained to the police that they had witnessed sexual activity that night.
“During their disciplinary, the firemen did not claim to have witnessed any illegal act or sexual activity. Nor was it ‘one of the gays’ as you put it who complained about the firemen’s behaviour. The sexuality of the anonymous man who reported the fire engine’s presence on the Downs, and that of any other men who may or may not have been seen there, is as unknown as their identity.”

Evening Standard
David Nicholls, of Essex, complained that an article, which contained an interview with his ex-wife about the sad death of their 14-year-old daughter Madelaine, contained inaccuracies. In particular, it suggested that his ex-wife and his new partner had decided that her organs would be donated, when it was a decision taken by the complainant and his ex-wife (as Maddie’s parents). The article also wrongly referred to his daughter as Maddie Adams, not Maddie Nicholls. (Clause 1).

Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper undertook to give coverage to the complainant’s forthcoming London to Brighton bike ride in aid of The Royal Brompton and Harefield Trust which looked after Maddie during her illness.

Mansfield Chad
Daniel Westwell, of Mansfield, complained that a court report had inaccurately referred to his former partner as his ex-wife. (Clause 1)

Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following correction:
“At Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on March 11, Daniel Westwell, of The Knoll, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to harassing a woman. The complainant, his former partner, was referred to in court as Mrs Westwell and not, as stated in our report, his ex-wife. We apologise for this error.”

Hythe Herald
Mr H Williams, of Hythe, complained that an article was inaccurate in suggesting that ‘hundreds’ of ‘sinister’ leaflets had been fly-posted by the British National Party on the banks of the Royal Military Canal. The complainant said that no more than 30 leaflets – which were on the subject of immigration – had been displayed. (Clause 1).

Resolution: The matter was resolved when the newspaper published a letter from the complainant, which set out the background to the matter, noted that only about 30 leaflets had appeared and summarised the BNP’s policy on immigration.

Nottingham Evening Post
Graham Walker complained that two postings on the newspaper’s website had been falsely attributed to him. In fact, he was not responsible for the entries; someone had been posing as him. (Clause 1).

Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper removed the spoof comments and blocked the email address from which they were sent.