Misrepresentation in Bridport & Lyme Regis News

Area Discussion South West
2

Some of you may have read the above Article entitled: 

’ Council crackdown on parade motorists - 

N0 MORE: Councillors are to tighten up on motorists using Marine Parade without permission ’

In which David Bol quotes Ciir Anita Williams :-

Cllr Anita Williams spoke about the problems faced when the Red Arrows performed in front of a packed crowd on Marine Parade. .

“Two years ago, when the Red Arrows performed, we had the MX5 club on the front," she said.

“They overstayed their finish time by two hours just so they could stay and watch the Red Arrows.

“The moment the Red Arrows ?nished, they all tried to move when the parade was absolutely rammed.

“PC Kirsty Ball had to stop them by physically standing in front of vehicles to stop them moving anywhere.”

 

This is totally untrue as in the many years we have attended Lifeboat Week we have never had our display on even the same day as the Red Arrows performance. 

I have sent a the following e-mail to the Editor of the Bridport & Lyme Regis News, their reporter Davil Bol and also posted it on their website.

 

I write to correct the inaccuracy in David Bol’s article in the June 25th copy of the Bridport & Lyme Regis News on page 26 entitled ‘ Council crackdown on parade motorists’. The sub heading implies motorists are using Marine Parade without permission.

 

As the organiser for several years of the display by the MX5 owners club in Lifeboat week, which has always been put on at the request of the RNLI  in order to help raise their funds, I feel very perturbed by the report of Cllr. Anita Williams’s statement. She needs to get her facts correct as at no stage has the MX5 display been on the sea front on the same day as the Red Arrows were performing their display.

We have never either overstayed our agreed finish time or caused any problems. Cllr Williams’s comment that PC Kirsty Ball had to stop our members by physically standing in front of the cars, is pure fantasy.

The facts about 2yrs ago in 2013 were that the Red Arrows performed at 12 noon on Fri. July 26th. and our MX5 owners club display was on Marine Parade from 10.30 to 4p.m.on Sat. July 27th as agreed with the RNLI.

 

I look forward to an apology on behalf of all our club members and trust a correction will be made in the next edition of the News.

 

Chris Lang  ( on behalf of MX5 owners club UK – South West region).

 

‘Charnwood’ 51 Talbot Rd.

LYME REGIS,
Dorset DT7 3BB

Tel/Fax 01297 442003

e-mail : annie-chris@phestos.co.uk"

 

 If any of you wish to see the full article or write to the paper please e-mail or PM me for details.

 Regards

 Chris

 

3

Perhaps you should also send your statement of rebuttal to the Council.

4

Thanks Chris,

having attended the last 3 years events at the RNLI 's invitation without any complaints or issues we are in agreement with your observations and have brought this to the attention of the OC and will post a response soon.

It is unfair that the newspaper has chosen to portray the MX5 Club in such a way without checking their facts first.

Roger Mead the MX5OC Chairman has offered his support to Chris following his response to the local newspaper.

5

Chris

This is a shameful piece of wholly inaccurate reporting and I’m glad you are following it up with the paper. I will be interested to see their response.

 

6

Are you sure they mean the Owners Club? 

Your quote just says “mx5 club”  perhaps there was another club attending(I don’t know the event just an observation)?

 

7

Intriguing to note that it has taken two years to raise this, one presumes that there is a ulterior motive of which we are not aware? I await with interest any response from the newspaper and/or councillor, which I am sure Chris will advise us of!

John T.

8 
Just a quick update as Bridport &amp; Lyme Regis News have eventually published my letter two weeks later in this weeks edition, out Thursday 9th.  No apology or comment but I suppose it's something.<br />Chris 


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