About Me

South Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
We are the neighbours of the "Chilterns Water Mill" - featured on the episode of Grand Designs first broadcast on the 4th February 2009. We were asked to take part in the programme, but were strongly advised not to due to the extremely serious nature of allegations we have made against South Oxfordshire District Council - including improper conduct on the part of specific employees and councillors. The council is currently under investigation by the Local Government Ombudsman and the Standards Board for England. If anyone is serious about wanting to know details of the allegations or a fuller account of what has gone on - email me (from an address I can identify please) and we might talk further.

Monday, 14 September 2009

Ofcom Adjudication

Ofcom have now issued their adjudication on the Grand Designs programme. They have decided not to uphold our complaint. The full text of their adjudication can be found on page 48 of the current Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin. For those not inclined to wade through it all, they have decided in essence that:

1. The programme did not represent us unfairly
2. We had no right to privacy.

As you might imagine we do not agree! However, whilst the judgement on fairness flies in the face of the overwhelming evidence from viewers themselves, and Ofcom have managed to come perilously close to accusing the council of (additional) misconduct, we have decided not to expend further time challenging the decision.

The most worrying issue for the wider public is in Ofcom's decision on privacy. It appears to directly contradict rulings on similar cases by the Press Complaints Commission - showing a lack of "joined up" thinking amongst the various bodies charged with regulation of the media. Also, when you stop to consider the amount of information that might be described, no matter how obscurely, as being in "the public domain", this adjudication is truly disturbing.

Thanks to all those who have voted (whichever way!) in our polls, which are now closed.

The entirely separate matter of the investigation into the Council's conduct by the Local Government Ombudsman is still ongoing. More news on that when we have it.





Posted by NeighboursInTheWoods at 09:24

4 comments:

  1. Nemesis 15 September 2009 at 23:40

    I'm sorry to hear this, but unsurprised. Hope the Ombudsman brings a better response.

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  2. octopus27331 October 2009 at 19:49

    Hi, is there any news yet regarding the Ombudsman equiry? What's the latest with the house, I heard it was for sale?

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  3. NeighboursInTheWoods3 November 2009 at 11:57

    Hi. The Ombudsman investigation is still ongoing - the cogs turn very slowly with such things unfortunately. There has been no activity with the house pretty much all this year - not sure what is going on there - no info on it being for sale - and it is not really anywhere near being finished - so all a bit of a mystery at the moment!

    ReplyDelete

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