Monbiot launches into local rags

An interesting piece from George Monbiot today over on the Guardian website (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/09/local-newspapers-democracy). Needless to say, this is fairly close to my own thoughts on the matter, stated in numerous past posts.

Monbiot’s example from his own home town, of the ‘battle raging over Tesco’s attempts to build a superstore on the edge of town’ sounds similar to the situation in Hythe with the proposed new Sainsbury’s on the Smiths Medical site. The Herald has at least presented two views on the matter. On November 6, they carried a letter from a local resident protesting about a full page article which appeared in the previous edition, penned by Sezen Zeki of the Channel Chamber of Commerce, extolling the virtues of the supermarket for the high street citing figures compiled by…Sainsbury’s.

At the risk of prompting the Herald into a real story, I note that several Hythe High Street retailers are members of the chamber of commerce. Perhaps they could get their thoughts on the Chamber’s views?

One local bright spot identified by Monbiot (using Roy Greenslade’s efforts as his source) is the Kentish Express, getting a nod as the ‘one instance of real journalism: a report on 'the inflated costs of upgrading a local road,’ presumably referring to Paul Francis’ work with the FoI act and Ashford’s shared space idea, also mentioned in posts past on this blog.

A scathing article followed by equally scathing comments.

While I’m at it one last post on the Herald November 6 edition.

Following from the rather odd article supporting Able Securities boss Dougie Mooring penned by Mike Sims in the October 22 edition (see post of October 28 below), Mr. Mooring again finds himself in the spotlight over allegations of unfair clamping. Miss Sonja Cufley collapsed in a dentists, was given oxygen and was then taken to hospital in Ashford by ambulance, thereby overstaying her ticket.

Mr. Mooring refused to not issue the fine and even charged her £20 for the trouble of appealing the decision. This story is covered by ... Mike Sims.
Mr Mooring is only following the letter of the law, but is Mike Sims taking revenge after being made to write the previous piece of non-news offering somewhat qualified support for Mr Mooring following his clamping the car of a man with no legs?