Letter to Newsquest boss from South London council leaders
Mr Gary Kendall
Managing Director
Newsquest (London) Ltd.
Floor 10, Quadrant House
The Quadrant
Sutton
Surrey
SM2 5AS
Dear Mr Kendall
We are writing to express our concern at the recent announcement by Newsquest regarding your restructuring, which we believe will lead to a reduction in locally based reporters and to a serious erosion of your important role in holding elected local politicians to account.
As council leaders in South London boroughs, we very much value the contribution to debate that comes from our local newspapers.
Although we do not always agree with them on every issue, we have also found your reporters to be both independent and challenging of our councils where required.
Your reporters do a vital job in covering local stories of interest to residents across south London and to lose this local link would be disastrous.
I do hope you will think again about your plans and do all you can to protect your excellent service across South London.
Due to the importance of this issue, we will be placing this letter in the public domain.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Stephen Alambritis
Chair, South London Partnership
Leader, Merton Council
Cllr Kevin Davis Cllr Ruth Dombey
Leader, Kingston Council Leader, Sutton Council
Cllr Tony Newman Cllr Lord True
Leader, Croydon Council Leader, Richmond Council
June 29, 2015