Sir,

I was pleased to read your article in the Tenby Observer on May 18 which pointed out that the High Court had set aside the censure on Clr. Calver, for allegedly bringing the council into disrepute. I was extremely disappointed with the original finding by the Standards Committee and with the upholding of their finding by the Adjudication Panel for Wales. I felt that it was a severe blow for the freedom of speech.

Having personally attended two of the above hearings, I was struck by the fact that no one was able, or even attempted to disprove any of the facts that Clr. Calver had printed on his website. Even more importantly, Clr. Calver produced documentary evidence to show that a completed questionaire which had been sent by Manorbier Comunity Council to local residents, had been photo copied and many times duplicated. This was corroborated by a report from the police, but the Standards Committee took no further action to investigate.

Indeed the Standards Committee seemed to be more interested in the tone of what Clr. Calver had printed, than the facts. Possibly they were more interested in vilifying a council member who was not a member of the 'Independent Political Group'.

Furthermore, I believe that a councillor who is charged to appear before the Standards Committee for alleged breach of the Code of Conduct should have the right to object to certain members of the panel, especially if he has had many previous clashes with them in council. After all, in a court of law, the defendant has the right to object to jurors.

I believe that this High Court judgement will be used as a benchmark case history in freedom of speech cases for many years to come.

Arthur Jarvis,

9 Southlands,

Pembroke.