Council leader facing legal action over "defamatory" blog post (From Thisisdorset)
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Council leader facing legal action over "defamatory" blog post
9:04am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Latest By Katie Clark
Ray Nottage
THE leader of Christchurch council is facing legal action over claims he wrote a “defamatory” blog post.
Cllr Ray Nottage’s blog post from January 14 has landed the leader in hot water after local businessman Dr Alistair Somerville-Ford instructed his lawyers to start legal proceedings over the post.
Despite Dr Somerville-Ford asking for an apology to be published on the blog, the leader failed to meet the deadline in which to apologise.
Dr Somerville-Ford, who is working with the Friends of Druitt Hall, has offered funding to keep the existing Druitt Hall running, while a new facility is built.
He has appointed a board of trustees to run Druitt Hall and is currently working on a business plan for the community hall.
He said: “On January 14, I received a number of calls from members of the local community who advised me that Cllr Nottage had produced a blog in which he made a number of clearly defamatory statements about me and my motives for supporting the Friends of Druitt Hall.
“I can only assume that the comments on his blog were motivated by his dislike for anyone who had the effrontery to challenging his authority.
“I instructed my lawyers to issue a letter before action in which he was asked to provide an apology for his comments and to publish it on his blog.
“He has failed to do so and as a result, my lawyers have been instructed to commence legal action against him for defamation.”
When he was contacted by the Daily Echo, Cllr Nottage would only state that he did not know anything about the legal action.
Dr Ford was a member of the original steering committee set-up 20 years ago to discuss issues with Christchurch town centre, including Druitt Hall.
In May last year he was approached by two local users of the hall, who were trying to stop the council from closing and demolishing the facility.
He pledged his support and after a long fight between supporters and the council, the first meeting of the newly-formed Druitt Hall Association took place with the local authority last week.
Comments(10)
jenksy84
says...
11:49am Wed 13 Feb 13
I just read it and to me it seems like a storm in a teacup. Dr Ford wasn't named in it but I suspect by calling in the story to the Echo he's making it worse.
What a waste of time and money for somebody for stating their opinion. Just talk it over like men. Its just typical of today's culture to resort to solicitor's letters.
I walked past the Druitt Hall at the weekend. Its a complete mess and falling apart. I'm surprised anybody would want to keep. Its just a prefab building for heavens sake.
Victor_Meldrew_ Jnr
says...
11:49am Wed 13 Feb 13
I did warn you Cllr Nottage that you were not the most popular person in Christchurch. Perhaps Councillor, you may feel this would be the right time to stand down as Leader of Christchurch Borough Council.
ab8
says...
1:16pm Wed 13 Feb 13
have got a wee bit afraid and hidden theirs from public view!
xchresident
says...
3:01pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Despite a Covenant requiring this, the Council has failed to maintain the hall adequately or require previous lease -holder Christchurch Housing Association to do so. There has been a concerted push to demolish it, particularly spearheaded by Leader Ray Nottage. No new bookings have been allowed over the past year so 'demonstrating' it is 'not needed.'
But actually it has been in constant use for nearly 60 years, and lots of groups would like to use it, especially now that funding for refurbishment is available.
Dr Ford will fund the refurbishment through his charity to keep the current hall running until a new hall, also funded by him is built.
The insinuations by Cllr Nottage make us wonder why he seems so keen to undermine this project.
I wonder if there is some other agenda about Druitt Gardens?
Justin Black
says...
4:22pm Wed 13 Feb 13
1. Your position as Leader of the Council is no longer tenable due to the number of adverse reports in both local and national press. You have no other choice but to do the decent thing and stand down from the position as Leader.
2. You have critisicied a number of the comments I have made about what is happening to Christchurch, and your comments have been less than complimentary. Isn't it time you issued a public apology for all the outbursts you have had in public, especially in the Council Chamber.
jinglebell
says...
5:38pm Wed 13 Feb 13
jenksy84 wrote:From old reports in the Echo, you can see the group intend to build a new building and Dr. Ford has pledged to pay for it and is happy to put all that in a contract.
It may have gone from his blog but it can still be read if you search on bing for the blog and select the cached version.
I just read it and to me it seems like a storm in a teacup. Dr Ford wasn't named in it but I suspect by calling in the story to the Echo he's making it worse.
What a waste of time and money for somebody for stating their opinion. Just talk it over like men. Its just typical of today's culture to resort to solicitor's letters.
I walked past the Druitt Hall at the weekend. Its a complete mess and falling apart. I'm surprised anybody would want to keep. Its just a prefab building for heavens sake.
I cannot imagine what the reasons are for Christchurch Council's refusal to take this "gift horse in the mouth" opportunity to provide a brand new building especially as the current one is very popular.
skydriver
says...
5:47pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Cllr Nottage your days are now over, thank goodness .
skydriver
says...
5:56pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Yankee1
says...
10:54pm Wed 13 Feb 13
twynham wrote:That is prima facae evidence if this goes to trial.
Cllr Nottage may not know anything about the legal action but has removed the blog for January 14th!
The internet address can be traced and timestamped right to the actual compute that deleted it.
twynham says...
9:29am Wed 13 Feb 13