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Weekly hosts public meeting after councils’ U-turn

The KM Group-owned Kentish Gazette took action after Kent County Council and Canterbury City Council refused calls to hold a public discussion on their plans to alter the road layout around the historic Westgate Towers in the city despite an earlier promise.

The issue has been one of the most divisive that the paper has covered in recent years.

More than 200 people affected by the proposal attended the meeting which was chaired by editor Leo Whitlock, pictured below, and promoted on the front page, on the front of page of the Gazette’s sister free paper the Extra, online and via social media.

Kentish Gazette editor Leo Whitlock chaired the meeting

“We were furious that our readers were being denied the chance to have their say and that a number of important decisions had been made behind closed doors by councillors and others with the press and public alike excluded,” Leo told HTFP.

“As soon as our meeting was announced we were criticised by the great and the good who branded it a pointless exercise and said it would descend into farce.

“Instead, we hosted an intelligent debate attended by people who live in and care about our city.

“We think it’s essential to hold politicians in Kent to account and stick up for the interests of our readers rather than the elite few.

“Scrutiny of politicians by a free and unfettered press is essential to democracy and editors must have the courage to take on those who would abandon openness and transparency in favour of convenience.”

The Kentish Gazette team turned out in force to cover the meeting with news editor Joe Walker taking care of live tweeting and chief reporter Gerry Warren collecting audio and video content.

Reporter Jamie Bullen was in charge of the roving mic and reporter Lowri Stafford took care of writing the story.

Meanwhile reporter Alex Claridge was at the joint transportation board meeting where councillors debated whether to limit public debate.

3 comments

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  • October 4, 2013 at 11:31 am
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    Good for them! Bet they see a spike in sales and website hits.
    Why? Because they are covering local issues with passion – the real trick to running a profitable news operation.

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  • October 4, 2013 at 12:02 pm
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    This is a bit different to the KM Group’s rival, Kent On Sunday, which desperately seeks the approval of politicians with its advisory board that has the Tory leaders of Kent County Council and Medway Council on it.

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  • October 4, 2013 at 3:35 pm
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    Well done Leo and team. A paper on the side of its readers and willing to go the extra mile.

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