I had already realised what a nightmare council press offices could be to deal with before today but had thought they’d be a little more accommodating once I was behind the desk of one of the big names in newspapers. Apparently not.
After beginning my day with the usual hunt for stories I stumbled across an ongoing dispute between a well-known BBC presenter and her local council over planning permission. I quickly realised that the planning committee of the council in question had actually met the night before to make its final decision on the issue and that it had been looking likely that the presenter would be made to pull down a very costly extension on the back of her house. It only being 10 am the decision had obviously not been posted on the council’s website yet (heaven forbid!) and so I hurriedly called the press office to try and access the decision before anyone else. Continue reading
