Express & Echo Article

Subject: Full/Half Page Article in the Express and Echo

Various emails, starting with one from myself to CF/SDNP and SL/EPW + others.

Hi All – I have persuaded the Express and Echo to do a full/half page feature re Looe Road Park and its surrounding community. The article will include the input from various partnership organisations particularly Exeter Parks Watch and the Parks Department. I particularly want to include some input from Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.

Response from Christine Fraser/SDNP -

Hi Bob Well done. I saw your picture in today's edition, so it looks as if you are taking up residence in that journal! Happy to do whatever (within reason!) is required...!
Christine

Response from Susan Lawrence/EPW -
Hi Bob Happy to help to promote Looe Road Park and the work of Parks Watch.Regards Sue

Sorry Bob. Forgot to give you my number: XXXXXXXXXX.See you next Friday. Susan


Another email from Susan Lawrence/EPW, following on from her previous message.

Hi Bob do be careful about this link with E&E. I have been down this avenue with the E&E before and one discordant word and the E&E will splash it over everywhere and the voice of reason will be forgotten. Also everyone has to be careful that they do not give their views which then appears to be the views of Parks Watch. I don’t want PW to lose all its credibility that PW and other local residents have worked hard to achieve in their own particular parks throughout Exeter, hard work that has gone on for 6 years. Believe me it can happen. Been there – done it and don’t want to do it again!
Emails end.

It would appear from SL's second email that she shares SDNP's concerns about 'losing credibility'. What both organisations are unable, or unwilling, to see is that any credibility they have lost is because of their own actions, not those of anyone else.

Because of inaction from CF/SDNP/SL/EPW on this matter I took the initiative and arranged for a comprehensive article, re Looe Road Park, to be published in the Express & Echo. I thought this would be an ideal opportunity to 'sell ourselves/involved organisations' and what we are all trying to achieve within our community'. I also thought, by raising our profile, it may help raise awareness of the need for funding.

Christine Fraser/SDNP/Susan Lawrence/EPW were originally very receptive and positive towards the idea (see above). However, approximately a week before the Express and Echo journalist was due to contact various members (listed at the start of this paragraph + others) of involved organisations and specific individuals, I was contacted by SL who expressed her reluctance to being involved, in spite of originally expressing her support for the article. Because of SLs concerns I requested a copy of the article from the E&E before publication to ensure there would be no negativity included. The article will be (was) published but any contribution from EPW only relate to 'generalities' rather than the specifics of Looe Road Park. My main concern was that this reluctance from EPW to be involved could affect important opportunities in the future and may have already done so.

CF also commented that she and SDNP, “Don’t get involved in this sort of thing”. It was agreed, between the Express and Echo and myself that, in view of Susan Lawrence’s and Christine Fraser’s and, of course SDNPs reluctance to be involved, that they would not be asked to contribute to this article. The subsequent article gave a very positive overview of what we, as a community are trying to achieve, despite EPW’s/SDNP’s refusal to participate.

It was also unfortunate that Paul Faulkner, Manager of Parks and Open Spaces was 'unable to attend, but he did at least send one of his staff to represent his department.

In conclusion - Whilst I appreciate that some level of 'monitoring' is probably necessary, any personal initiatives are generally frowned upon and discouraged. I appreciate that Sue Lawrence works and is therefore limited in the time and energy that she can/wants to devote to our community but this is surely sufficient reason alone to delegate some of the responsibility. The work restrictions on Sue Lawrence’s time also allowed Christine Fraser to do more or less as she pleased, which she generally did/does anyway.

So much for supporting our community. Whilst CF/SDNP/SL/EPW refused, yet again, to support initiatives and contribute to the article focussing on our community, "because they don't get involved in this sort of thing", they are more than happy to use the local press in other matters when it suits them.