“Given Medway, a conurbation of some 220,000 residents is currently only served by two major newspapers; News and Messenger,” he wrote, “it is extremely concerning to note that the KM Group would have an effective monopoly over the area.”

I’m not sure I agree. Granted, a monopoly by a single media company is not always a healthy development, and it is a stronger argument at the moment, given the News International fiasco than it would have been this time last year.

However, contrary to Cllr Osborne’s claims, I do not see much in the way of bias emanating from the Medway Messenger, and I have to admit that I laughed at the absurdity of the following sentence: “it … indeed does raise questions about whether the KM Group will remain impartial and investigative of Conservative Council practices”.

Excuse my French, but bollocks!

Local media has been in financial decline as drastically as national media, with the increasing popularity of online and social media. Many local media organisations have struggled to cope, and various restructuring operations have gone on nationwide, with many titles disappearing.

Over the ten years or so I have been reading the KM Group’s newspapers, they have always remained hot on the heels of the council, eager to expose waste, incompetence and general wrongdoing, whilst encouraging praise for the things that have been done right.

It can take just one critical article for a politician to claim that a newspaper is biased against them, but in local media that is rarely the case.

In practice, partiality by local newspapers will dent their circulation further still and risk their financial sustainability. Taking on several loss-making liabilities is equally as risky, and no media organisiation with good business sense would wish to place themselves under any unnecessary risk.

I can not see the day that the KM Group would ever not challenge the council and, as an independent publisher (free from the eye of a national media organisation), I doubt they would betray their journalistic principles of exposing disgraceful behaviour, as they have a strong history of doing.

To bring in party politics and imply that, all of a sudden, they could be influenced by individual parties is desperate and shameful, and does not encourage good media relations for an ambitious young politician who will spend at least the next four years in the Medway public eye.

I, however, am leaving next month, and can say what I think (not that anything has ever stopped me from doing that before!).

It is generally accepted in my household that the two rivals’ roles have switched, with the Medway Messenger becoming an unmissable read, whilst the News is, with the least of disrespect intended to the journalists themselves (for whom I genuinely have a great deal of respect) as possible, barely worthy as toilet paper, to put it politely.

It has, being frank, been in steady decline in content and standards for years. When Northcliffe Media purchased the titles from Trinity Mirror there was a glimmer of hope, with further hope still coming from the restructuring.

Indeed, and for various reasons, my family has known a few individuals who have worked for the paper and its predecessors in varying roles at various levels. With the exception of one who sadly passed away, the rest are glad they no longer work there.

If the News needs saving, it is from their publishers – and if the KM Group bid is the only option, then it must be jumped upon, for the sake of the title and the journalists who work there.

The KM Group already operates several local titles across the county, with associated websites, and county-wide radio station KMFM, which includes a local breakfast show across several different regions of the county.

At the moment, the News is owned by Northcliffe Media, itself a subsidiary of national media conglomerate the Daily Mail and General Trust, who also own the Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers.

However, staff at both the KM Group and Northcliffe Media’s county body Kent Regional News & Media (KRN&M) were informed on Monday of the plans, which would also see the East Kent Gazette, Herne Bay and Whitstable Times, Faversham Times, Canterbury Times, Isle of Thanet Gazette, Thanet Times, Folkestone Herald and Dover Express bought out.

It is presently unclear whether the KM Group would keep the titles as a going concern or integrate them with their current titles, or how they would affect KRN&M’s current staff.

At present, the KM Group publishes the Medway Messenger on a Monday and Friday, whilst KRN&M recently merged it’s Tuesday title the Medway Standard, it’s Friday title the Medway News and it’s free paper the Adscene into the Thursday weekly News, which is still delivered free in some areas of Medway.

The KM Group announced that it would submit its proposals to the competition watchdog the Office of Fair Trading this week, who will then begin an eight week investigation in to the bid.

The news that the 168 year-old News of the World is to close after this Sunday’s issue turned a giver of unforgiving news stories in to the subject of unforgiving news stories.

Some rivals were unrelenting in their response to the decision to close, though most remained (sensibly) cautious about the way they reported the loss of around 200 jobs at News International’s infamous Sunday tabloid.

Speculation is rife as to why the decision was made, with many claiming that the hacking controversy merely sped-up an already-in-the-pipeline plan to merge the News of the World with its sister weekday paper The Sun to create a seven-day operation.

Others pondered as to why the decision was made to lay off staff who (mostly) were not employed by the paper when the alleged criminal activities took place whilst someone who was (i.e. Rebekah Brooks) is still in post.

The Prime Minister has rightly stated today that if Mrs Brooks had offered her resignation, which it was alleged she did, then he would have accepted it. As it is, News International has said instead that she will not be involved in the clean-up.

Ominously, though, she has said that, one year from now, people will understand why they closed the News of the World. In an address to soon-to-be-former employees, she has said that worse criminal activities will be uncovered over the next few years.

She said that the brand has become toxic, and that, whilst a seven-day Sun is being examined, it will be the same paper every day of the week, not the News of the World “under a different masthead”.

Fellow Medway blogger John Ward has hit the nail on the head in his post today. There is one main reason behind the closure: advertising.

One by one, advertisers pulled out of the News of the World, seriously damaging their revenues. Whilst the storm may have blown over and they may have been able to salvage some in time, it would have been a loss-making venture for months. If there is worse to come, advertisers would not return at any time.

News International is, I fear, about to be hit further.

News came today that Renault is pulling advertising from the whole company: The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times. Other advertisers may or may not follow suit, it is too early to tell.

Either way, the backlash against the News of the world or News International will not end just because the paper is to close.

SPEAKING as both a law student and Royal British Legion volunteer, I was horrified to read about the actions of Geoffrey Henrick in the Birmingham Mail (February 22).

Where I live in Medway (I’m here in Birmingham visiting family and friends), I have been volunteering to raise money for the Poppy Appeal since I was 12 and have supported the Royal British Legion for most of my life.

It makes me sick to the stomach whenever governments (of whatever persuasion) betray the trust and relationship they have with our services and ex-services community, but to discover that the betrayal has come from a holder of immense responsibility and trust within an organisation that has campaigned tirelessly for our Armed Forces family since its inception kills a little of the faith I have for humanity.

Alan W Collins, by email

For background to this letter, see this article in the Birmingham Mail.

WE ARE told ?a brand new, state-of-the-art, three-runway airport would promote growth, attract investment and create employment?.

I can already?picture?residents on the Hoo Peninsula queueing for miles to benefit from the “local” jobs promised as they watch their idyllic surroundings ravaged.

The problem is that Boris? plans to pave over the beautiful north Kent countryside ? a prominent habitat for migrating birds, which sees ornithologists flocking to catch a glimpse of a rare species ? do not merely involve the terminal and runways.

Associated infrastructure will kill any remaining natural beauty ? a promise to connect via the high-speed rail?network?and vastly increased traffic to accommodate tourists, business travellers and thousands of airport staff on existing roads (not to mention the miles of extra roadways that would be necessary) would ensure that any remaining green spaces were dutifully paved over and any wildlife (not to mention us human beings) remaining would be sent running for fear of their lives. I am a massive fan of Mayor BoJo. His brilliant intelligence allowed him to create his persona of a clumsy baboon. His faux pas, though offending huge populations at a time, were largely innocent and harmless. Not so since his deluded visions for Boris Island ? and now, we learn, for a resurrection of plans fought fiercely and successfully against, emanating from his political foes.

Alan W Collins, by email

?A brand new, state-of-the-art, three-runway airport would promote growth, attract investment and create employment?. I can already picture residents on the Hoo Peninsula queuing for miles to benefit from the ?local? jobs promised as they watch their idyllic surroundings ravaged by ruthless machinery.

The problem is that Boris? plans to pave over the beautiful north Kent countryside ? a prominent habitat for migrating birds, which sees ornithologists flocking to catch a glimpse of a rare species ? do not merely involve the terminal and runways.

Associated infrastructure will kill any remaining natural beauty ? a promise to connect via the high-speed rail network and vastly increased traffic to accommodate tourists, business travellers and thousands of airport staff on existing roads (not to mention the miles of extra roadways that would be necessary) would ensure that any remaining green spaces were dutifully paved over and any wildlife (not to mention us human beings) remaining were sent running for fear of their lives.

Now, I am a massive fan of Mayor BoJo. His brilliant intelligence allowed him to create his persona of a clumsy baboon. His faux pas, though offending huge populations at a time, were largely innocent and harmless. Not so since his deluded visions for ?Boris Island? ? and now, we learn, for a resurrection of plans fought fiercely and successfully against, emanating from his political foes.

Another issue being overlooked by some campaigners is that the plan is to create an international hub on a scale seen by few nations, and a replacement for London Heathrow as the country?s primary airport. Naturally, this aim is best served by siting such a crucial terminal at almost the most southeastern most tip of our islands.

Alan W Collins
By email

In the Yourmedway edition June 23, I responded to a letter from a man called Ted.

He complained that two new MPs were remaining on Medway Council and that receiving two sets of allowances was ?contemptuous?.

Conveniently, the two MPs he refers to are newly-elected Conservative MPs Rehman Chishti and Mark Reckless.

I pointed out that, in fact, the only contemptuous MP who needs to explain himself is Bill Esterson, as his new job in Sefton Central takes him more than 200 miles from his constituents (and listed home address) in River ward.

That said, I do not wish this article to discuss that point further. Instead, I, as the individual who prompted Medway Council to (finally) publish the allowances for 2009/10, would like to briefly muse over the allowances system afforded to councillors, and explain why ?760,000 is value for money, unlike the inference made by certain local bloggers.

In 2009/10, Cllr Reckless received in total ?9,025.20. That was the basic allowance afforded to councillors ? he did not claim for travel and subsistence, nor did he have a special responsibility worth extra money.

Despite moving (temporarily) to Sefton after being selected to fight the general election and dealing with constituents via email, Cllr Esterson accepted ?14,755 ? the basic allowance, ?49.60 for travel and subsistence, and ?5,680.20 for his special responsibility.

Portfolio Holder Cllr Chishti received ?20,385.60 ? the basic allowance plus ?11,360.40 for his special responsibility.

Let us remember, though, that there are 55 councillors, taking each a proportion of the ?760,000 paid to them based on their needs and requests. That makes an average of just ?13,818.18 per member ? and, let?s face it, if most of us had a choice, we wouldn?t get out of bed for that.

Let us also remember that councillors are not entitled to salaries, and that allowances are received in order to recompense members for their time and resources used in helping and representing their constituents.

While certain bloggers have criticised payments made to members, I would instead like to pay tribute to the immense amount of time and effort employed by members of all parties in working hard for their constituents.

Never [sic] hsa the phrase ?it?s not easy? rung truer than when describing the role of local councillor ? and whether you agree with the decisions taken and opinions expressed or not, the energy with which they go about their work for next-to-nothing should be respected.

Councillors don?t perform miracles, they can?t make big changes to your lives. But your local councillor can help you with the local problems that council officers ?forget? you informed them of. And as we are often reminded, it?s the little things that make a big difference. Now, how can you cap a price on that?

Alan Collins, by email

I write in response to Ted’s letter about Medway’s two newest MPs remaining in their council roles.

I find it odd that he should criticise two Conservative MPs, yet fail to mention Labour’s Bill Esterson, who, not only remains on the council, but has also been elected as an MP, but more than 200 miles from his constituents in River ward.

At least Cllrs Chishti and Reckless are representing the constituents on the council as they are in Parliament. And does he not realise that holding three by-elections in three wards would cost so much more than the ?18,000* for keeping these three on the council?

Alan W Collins

* I realised, having seen the letter in print, that my maths was anything but perfect. That figure should, of course, read ?27,000 – an approximation of the basic allowance?multiplied?by three – but my original point still stands.

This is an open letter to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon David Cameron MP; Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP; Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP; Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Rt Hon William Hague MP; the Minister of State for Europe, David Lidington MP; and the Minister of State for the Foreign Office (human rights), Jeremy Browne MP.

Dear Sirs,

I would like, at the outset of this letter, to draw your attention to Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that:

“1. In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law. [...]

2. Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.

3. Everyone charged with a criminal offence has the following minimum rights:
(a) to be informed promptly, in a language which he understands and in detail, of the nature and cause of the accusation against him;
(b) to have adequate time and the facilities for the preparation of his defence;
(c) to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing or, if he has not sufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interests of justice so require;
(d) to examine or have examined witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him;
(e) to have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court.”

Ministers should be aware that, at the same time that they were waiting to discover if they were to be offered a ministerial role in the coalition government, a former fireman from Kent was being bundled onto an aircraft by Interpol, bound for a Portuguese jail.

Garry Mann has suffered for six years at the absurd legal systems of, firstly, Portugal, then the United Kingdom. He fought a long battle against extradition for a crime he protests that he did not commit – protestations that, whilst I believe them, I do not wish to form the substantive part of this letter.

Ministers’ predecessors now facing them on the Opposition benches in the House of Commons knew Mr Mann’s case well – after all, his was one of the most high-profile, grossly unfair trials any honest British citizen and British taxpayer has ever been subject to within the European Union.

To have been tried in Portuguese as one of a group of people being charged with offences that they had not been properly informed of, within 48 hours, without a dedicated lawyer and without a proper interpretor practically shreds every right afforded to every European citizen under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, yet that is what happened to Mr Mann!

And then, to have been returned to Britain, to be released on bail by Magistrates (yes, lowly Magistrates!) who realised at the outset that Mr Mann had received a grossly unfair trial, which, under the laws of any humane and civilised country, should not have been legal, only to face six years of hell from both Portugal and Britain – hell that cost Mr Mann his job – merely served to add to the growing list of what I can only call human rights crimes against a British citizen.

When Portugal issued a European Arrest Warrant against the football fan and fireman, a system introduced under Labour to help fight the spread of terrorism across Europe not tourists wrongfully accused and unfairly treated, the Labour government almost without hesitation waved the white flag and signalled to Mr Mann that he was fighting his battle alone.

Fortunately, Fair Trials International took his case. Ministers should be aware that at every stage of every appeal made on behalf of Mr Mann, courts and judges of the British legal system sympathised with Mr Mann and agreed that he had indeed suffered a grossly unfair trial, but that, under a ludicrous system that ensures that our own courts cannot protect the rights of our own citizens, they were powerless to help.

British judges could not protect a British citizen facing two years in jail for a crime for which he was unfairly tried and convicted because the issue was outside the remit of the British courts. I invite Ministers to consider just how ludicrous that proposition is.

On May 12 of this year, whilst Ministers were waiting to be invited to their new roles in the coalition government, Garry Mann was extradited to Portugal to serve two years in prison – away from his partner and six children – despite British judges, from Magistrates to the Court of Appeal, agreeing that he should not be there.

Mr Mann has his appeal sat with the European Court of Human Rights, but Ministers should be aware that judgement may not be made until two years time – by which time Mr Mann will already have been falsely imprisoned for the two years sentenced upon him.

I urge Ministers to consider this case very carefully, and consider with their ministerial teams if there is any course of action available to them that can halt this travesty until the European Court of Human Rights has passed judgement – or until Portugal affords Mr Mann a fair trial, whichever is the soonest.

I further urge Ministers to scrap our unwavering commitment to the European Arrest Warrant, and to give British courts power to halt the extradition of ordinary British citizens where it is clear that gross breaches of their human rights have been recognised by British judges.

I urge Ministers to make persistent representations to the Portuguese government until they realise how badly they have mis-treated one of our citizens, and how Ministers in this government will not tolerate it happening again.

Mr Mann and his family have suffered for six long years, and I fervently believe that he has more than served time for the alleged offence already.

Therefore, above all else I, urge Ministers to explore their options and do all they can to bring Mr Mann back home to his family, where he belongs.

In the sincerest of hope that you will do the right thing,

Yours faithfully

Alan W Collins

Photograph reproduced under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License fromFreeFoto.com.

As well as providing all the latest Twydall news from Alan W Collins, the Twydall Ward website provides useful information for Twydall residents, including information on housing and elected representatives for Twydll and the Gillingham and Rainham parliamentary constituency.

In line with one of the website’s aims of “promoting and advertising local businesses and services across Twydall ward for local residents”, a directory of the shops situated in the shopping area Twydall Green is also available on the website, with details being continually added and updated.

Due to the early stage in the website’s life – and the amount of potential the website has for growth – it is being launched in “beta” release, a state which it is set to stay in for a couple of months.

Alan Collins said, “This exciting project has been in the pipeline since October and I am thrilled to finally be able to launch the beta version.

“It is still quite primitive at the moment, and there are some pages which are not quite finished, but the basic design and the news content is now in place, with the ability and potential to add much more over the coming weeks and months.

“I welcome the input and suggestions from Twydall residents on how to improve the design or the content.”

The website can be found at www.TwydallWard.co.uk.