“We are aware of a statement from Cllr Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council, in the press that raises concerns about our reporting and our supposed ‘campaign’ against Wiltshire Council.
In his statement, Cllr Clewer accuses Wiltshire Publications of running an ongoing campaign over the past two years to pressure the council into advertising statutory notices with us. He also claims that we have continued present a negative narrative because the council has chosen not to advertise with us.
We feel these accusations are inaccurate and misrepresent our intentions. We have written only one article on the matter of public notices, published in our issue on 10th October. This followed the council chair’s decision not to consider a motion from Cllr Jon Hubbard. We categorically deny the claims of an ongoing campaign lasting over two years. The issue of public notices was first raised with the council in September 2023, and we have published only this one article on the subject since then. To characterise this as an ongoing campaign is both misleading and unfounded.
The matter of public notice policy concerns taxpayers’ money and public access to information. Our role is to ensure that the public is well-informed, especially on issues of transparency and public spending. Any suggestion that we are highlighting these issues for personal gain is not only inaccurate but entirely inappropriate.
Cllr Clewer has stated that our reporting has not been impartial. However, it is unfair to accuse us of impartiality based on a single article, especially one that was grounded in data obtained via Freedom of Information requests and included a response from the council. We do not feel it is the role of a statutory body to judge our editorial decisions. Editorial independence is essential to a free press, and it allows us to hold public institutions accountable. Our responsibility is to the public and presenting information based on fact.
By refusing to engage with local media over a single article, the council’s actions undermine the principles of press freedom and open dialogue, which are essential to ensuring accountability and transparency in public institutions. Constructive communication could have addressed their concerns, and we remain open to such discussions in the future.
For over 40 years, the Melksham News has served this community with integrity, providing factual reporting and holding public institutions accountable. This record of service underscores our commitment to our readers and to press freedom. We stand by our reporting and remain committed to informing our readers in an accurate and fair manner, ensuring that the community has access to the information it needs to hold its elected officials to account.”
