Travellers in Portsmouth - the story continues

Here's the text of a letter I have just written to the Editor of The News (our local newspaper). I'll publish any reply I get from them on this blog. See below my letter for a copy of the letter which got me writing again...

Dear Editor,

I write to express my dismay that my letter of four days ago (below) was not published (even in edited form) by your newspaper; whereas in today's edition of The News you have seen fit to publish an intolerant rant from from J L Goater of Catherington Way, Leigh Park. I wonder what J L Goater thinks should really happen to Travellers (aside from the silly suggestion of parking them next to MPs homes). Perhaps Mr or Ms Goater would like 'these people' (as he or she described them) rounded up and exterminated? Conversely, my suggestion (of using the former caravan site on the Eastern Road) was intended to make a tolerant, practical, contribution to the issue.

Hitherto I have worked under the assumption that my local Newspaper would be interested in putting over an alternative view about the issue of Travellers. I seem to have been mistaken. Your decision to give publicity to such intollerant racism (for that is exactly what J L Goater has displayed) without offering an alternative viewpoint from a community leader is extremely regretable.

I regret to say that unless I see some balance being reported by you over this important issue, I will be cancelling my subscription to the News, and encouraging the members of the three churches I serve to do the same. I have already published my previous letter to you on part of my own website, which is read by many of my parish members. I will be publishing this letter there too.

I leave the ball in your hands - in the fervent hope that your decision not to provide a balanced story was just an editorial oversight on your part.

Yours sincerely,

Tom Kennar

Here's the text of the letter from J L Goater that got me so riled:

Headline: Sorry, we're full

With regards to the site for travellers story in The News, Nov 13, good for Portsmouth City Council!

Why should any council find spaces for these people? Portsmouth is full up now, just like the rest of the country. But that's another story.

Travellers contribute absolutely nothing to the economy, so why help them?

Although, having said that, I have found the perfect parking area for them. Find out where all our MPs live and park them as near as possible to their private homes. That would soon change their mind about these people.

J L Goater, Leigh Park.