Leader of council in online sock puppet row (From Thisisdorset)
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Leader of council in online sock puppet row
10:32am Monday 10th September 2012 in Latest By Katie Clark
HITTING OUT: Cllr Ray Nottage spoke out against “moaners” on the Echo website
THE leader of Christchurch Borough Council has defended himself after anonymously praising the council’s work online and criticising cynics and “moaners”.
Cllr Ray Nottage, ward member for Purewell and Stanpit , commented on the Daily Echo’s website about the potential sale of the Civic Offices b ut failed to identify himself as the leader of the council or even a councillor, despite being questioned about his identity by another commenter.
Posting under the name “doomdodger”, he said: “Where on earth does all this doom and dispondency (sic) come from. Christchurch is a great place, the council is doing a great job in a great community.
“Has this Victor ever done anything that benefits Christchurch or is he just another failed moaner intent on causing trouble.
“Get a life Victor, your comments becoming a parish have no substance are a complete joke.”
When questioned by the commenter “Victor” about whether he was a senior member of the council, “doomdodger” said: “Sorry Victor, I have not got time to deal with your ranting.
“But do now know who you are. So come clean, you are the appointed spokeman (sic) for the two independent Councillors.
“Your interest is not to see the borough prosper but to attack officers and members doing an excellent job at CBC.”
When contacted by the Daily Echo regarding the comments, Cllr Nottage said: “This is not something I am not saying on my blog.
“I was using the system as it is set up on your website, the same way as everyone else has.
“I was responding to an extraordinarily cynical view online about the working of the council.
“It is supposed to be anonymous and if someone is allowed to say the chief executive David McIntosh doesn’t care for Christchurch under anonymity, I should be allowed the same rights.
“I have used the system that you have set up in the way that you have set it.
“What I was doing was following through the process which you have decided is acceptable to your newspaper. I thought that signing up to your system in the Echo was anonymous. If you should expose me, then you should expose everybody.”
Factfile
Independent councillor Fred Neale said: “I would have thought that as leader of the council, Cllr Nottage would not want to hide behind anonymous comments.
“I would have thought he would have no qualms about posting comments about the council’s work in his own name.”
He added: “As to his suggestion the Independents have their own ‘spokesperson’, nothing could be further from the truth.
“Cllr Bungey and I are more than capable of speaking for ourselves and have absolutely no need for a spokesperson.”
Comments(35)
Huey
says...
10:45am Mon 10 Sep 12
A low level politico (whose face looks like an abandoned walnut) is blowing his own trumpet.
Didn't we have all this a few years back with Omegaman?
Sorry, I meant Cllr Ben Grower?
matt 66
says...
11:05am Mon 10 Sep 12
FrogKiss
says...
11:12am Mon 10 Sep 12
Is he acting in our interests? Or is he simply selling Christchurch down the River Stour to Wimbourne?
twynham
says...
11:13am Mon 10 Sep 12
.
Shame he didn't feel he could spare the same amount of time to acknowledge my correspondence regarding lack of Council action on the dangerous condition of Waterloo Bridge in July.
.
Assumed I was just another moaner who doesn't care about Christchurch I suppose.
Phixer
says...
11:20am Mon 10 Sep 12
"Or is he simply selling Christchurch down the River Stour to Wimbourne?"
Mudeford is 'down' the river; Wimbourne is up river.
politicaltrainspotter
says...
11:22am Mon 10 Sep 12
matt 66
says...
11:24am Mon 10 Sep 12
FrogKiss wrote:His blog is so funny to read...so full of his own self worth...makes out that he is the only councillor who does anything...lets hope that the councillors do the right thing and overcome this tyrant.
The man really should grow up - his blog is just as bad. Does he really have that much time on his hands? Is he acting in our interests? Or is he simply selling Christchurch down the River Stour to Wimbourne?
If he does not fall on his sword then maybe our MP should do something about it or someone in Westminster.
Clearly furthering the interests of himself and his friends...and then he can retire to somewhere hot while we the people of Christchurch have to live with the consequences of his selfish actions!
Linguist
says...
11:36am Mon 10 Sep 12
Phixer wrote:Can someone enlighten me as to where this "Wimbourne" is?
FrogKiss says...
"Or is he simply selling Christchurch down the River Stour to Wimbourne?"
Mudeford is 'down' the river; Wimbourne is up river.
Linguist
says...
11:36am Mon 10 Sep 12
Phixer wrote:Can someone enlighten me as to where this "Wimbourne" is?
FrogKiss says...
"Or is he simply selling Christchurch down the River Stour to Wimbourne?"
Mudeford is 'down' the river; Wimbourne is up river.
BigAlfromsunnyBournemouth
says...
11:52am Mon 10 Sep 12
BigAlfromsunnyBournemouth
says...
11:54am Mon 10 Sep 12
pete woodley
says...
12:04pm Mon 10 Sep 12
politicaltrainspotte"cured",you have to be joking.
r wrote:
Someone call a medic there must be a virus which implants itself within local Politicians.I think and only think 'Omegaman' is cured but i am certain other politician's use this forum under false names to defend the council and their work.
best troll ever
says...
12:15pm Mon 10 Sep 12
its Wombourne near Bridgnorth Salop
and the river is the Severn
I should know
i from they
FrogKiss
says...
12:22pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Doubt in a few years CBC will exist!
Defo "sold down the river!" ... or up the river as the case may be.
Our MP is very quiet on this subject... Perhaps the Christchurch Seat created in 1983 will be lost too...
The legacy of Nottage i fear will not be a good one.
dvdr
says...
12:43pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Xchurchmary
says...
12:49pm Mon 10 Sep 12
I never understood how this man got elected, I have seen him at ward meetings and always found him far to full of his own self worth rather than the needs of Christchurch people.
HE MUST BE MADE TO RESIGN AND IF HE DOES NOT RESIGN THEN MUST BE SACKED...HIS DOUBLE STANDARDS AND UNDER HAND TACTICS ARE HARMING THE NAME OF CHRISTCHURCH AND WE DO NOT WANT A MAN WHO USES SCHEMING LIKE THIS TO BE ALLOWED TO INFLUENCE THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THE COUNCIL AND THE OTHER COUNCILLORS.
IF I WANTED SLEAZE I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR TONY BLAIR AND HIS MOB!!
wonderway
says...
12:57pm Mon 10 Sep 12
and the people of Christchurch elected this idiot in and other tory councilors voted him in as leader the best thing the locals can do is never vote him in again
as they say hes a MUPPET
Xchurchmary
says...
1:00pm Mon 10 Sep 12
wonderway wrote:I doubt he cares...he is no spring chicken just wants to get what he wants and then vanish...I have far more confidence in the young councillors who seem to really care about the town and issues (evidenced by recent stories in the Echo) who want a positive legacy to be left...unlike Raymondo (if that is even his real name)!
well typical councillor full of his own bull and the people of Christchurch elected this idiot in and other tory councilors voted him in as leader the best thing the locals can do is never vote him in again as they say hes a MUPPET
Imaximus
says...
1:02pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Pablo23
says...
1:30pm Mon 10 Sep 12
At least he was using his computer for things related to his job unlike some councillors I could mention.
p.s. I think 'Huey' makes a fair point regarding the abandoned walnut, but I think lines add character and show life experience. Who would want a councillor that has the expressionless buttoxed paralysed look of a posh spice or jordan.
me&mybitches
says...
3:52pm Mon 10 Sep 12
these arrogant, self-serving, self-important, public servants think they know what's best for us, without actually listening to what the public say, lavishing funds on pet projects yet cutting them to ones in which they have no personal interest.
unclejimslad
says...
4:53pm Mon 10 Sep 12
I totally agree with the comments made by "Xchurchmary" above. My view is come back Alan Griffiths, you were a gentleman, and not a bully boy. You like to dish it out, but you cannot take it when people retaliate. I have not met many people in Christchurch who speak well of Cllr Nottage because of his actions and his attitude. Please do the right thing for the residents of Christchurch and stand down as Lead of Christchurch Council.
leagalbrief
says...
5:11pm Mon 10 Sep 12
ogspot.co.uk/
Victor_Meldrew_ Jnr
says...
5:16pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Councillor Nottages comments to me, in both the Echo, and his blog were not, I consider, to be in keeping with the comments expected from the Leader of the Council.
Councillor, you know who I am, and the people of Christchurch do not like what you are doing to the town, and they don't like the way you speak to people. I have seen your outbursts in the Council Chamber aimed at Councillors who have either stood up to you, or gone against you.
You cannot keep treating people the way you do so please either change your attitude, or let someone else lead the Council.
Please consider your own faults before castigating others because they have differing opinions.
manyogie
says...
5:39pm Mon 10 Sep 12
manyogie
says...
5:40pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Loyal2AFCB
says...
6:54pm Mon 10 Sep 12
pete woodley
says...
7:34pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Yankee1
says...
11:02pm Mon 10 Sep 12
GCHQ can track and date any post in a nanosecond. It just takes a court order. Or................?
Lord Spring
says...
7:47am Tue 11 Sep 12
FrogKiss wrote:You do mean Wimburn.
Must learn how to spell Wimborne.
Doubt in a few years CBC will exist!
Defo "sold down the river!" ... or up the river as the case may be.
Our MP is very quiet on this subject... Perhaps the Christchurch Seat created in 1983 will be lost too...
The legacy of Nottage i fear will not be a good one.
woby_tide
says...
9:23am Tue 11 Sep 12
pete woodley wrote:Surely democracy works best by having a mixed range of views. A Council entirely populated by septuagenarians who had lived in a place all their life would be terrible for example, decisions based on cronyism and emotive protection "it's always been like this" rather than being rational.
Bournemouth once had a mayor who had only been here about 2/3 years.And many councillors who had been not much longer.
That said they should all learn when they need to be quiet regardless of their age, length of residence etc
FrogKiss
says...
9:32am Tue 11 Sep 12
Daily Mail & Sun.
More interesting comments to take on board his sinking ship!
He has bought this council into disrepute, codes of conduct breached.
Time to walk the plank!
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
2201113/Ray-Nottage-
Tory-leader-praises-
council-internet-pos
tings-anonymous-user
name.html?ito=feeds-
newsxml
pete woodley
says...
9:55am Tue 11 Sep 12
GarrySibbald
says...
1:18pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Unfortunately this also leads to a large number of posts from users who enjoy the same annonymity. Virtually every story is hijaked by users who post viscious or inappropriate comments and I am sure they would think twice about doing so if they had to put their own name to them.
Come on Echo - remove the ability to post annonymously.
BigAlfromsunnyBournemouth says...
10:43am Mon 10 Sep 12