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Battle Lines Drawn over Chippy Web
by David Wilcock
A web designer and author has attacked critics he believes are trying to pressurise him into sidelining "bad news and giving a positive spin to his sites content. News and community website chippingnorton.net has been run by town councillor Gerry Alcock for two years, combining information on local services and businesses with an often acerbic take on local issues. Now he says West Oxfordshire district councillors are trying to silence his criticism of their alleged shortcomings. An e-mail sent to Mr Alcock by district councillor Mike Howes, seen by the Banbury Guardian, says: Can you not have a more welcoming home page and leave concerns which need attention to your letters section Can you give some thought to a stranger from abroad or a visitor from the UK wanting to know more about Chipping Norton and checking into the Chipping Norton web page when they want to visit us, buy a house here or set up in business What about a page on why Chippy is such a first class place with its Community spirit, communication links, shopping facilities, schooling and employment opportunities' Mr Alcock described the attempts to change the site as an 'amazing cheek'. "To suggest that I am deliberately setting out to ruin the image of this town is absurd,' he said."1 do not propose to stop campaigning to get decent services from our local councils'. One day last week the site received 800 visits which he described as incredible. Mr Alcock said: 'It's about time a few people started thanking me for my contribution to the town rather than sniping all the time. He suggested the district council set up its own website promoting the town. But Councillor Howes stood by his comments saying the site was "negative". He said he would approach the District Council to look at the possibility of funding a website promoting Chipping Norton specifically.
"PERSON" joins in the discussion on the ......"the answer to both Councillor Howes and WODC is to deal with the matters which are causing the residents and visitors to Chipping Norton alike great concern, then they would not have to see them on the web site It would appear that they are more prepared to spend a great deal of time, effort and money in trying to shut people up rather than dealing with issues. If Chipping Norton is to attract people and business then the infrastructure of the town has to be in a condition for those people to want to come to Chipping Norton. They will not want to find a town that has no Visitors centre, run down health care facilities lack of employment for young people leaving school, toilets which are unusable due to their run down condition, and a total lack of facilities for young people and their families......"