Media banned from Newbury retail meetings

Town centre traders want to discuss retail matters behind closed doors, says association's chairman

PRESS and local media will be excluded from future Newbury Retail Association (NRA) meetings because traders want to discuss retail matters in a “closed environment”, the association's chairman has claimed.

The NRA, which was formed in 1999, has now adopted a constitution which includes a rule to exclude press and local media from its meetings unless expressly invited.

Last month, the association's chairman, Brian Burgess, who in the past has questioned the Town Centre Partnership's decision to discuss town matters in private, said the media would be excluded from meetings because councillors felt they couldn't express their true opinions in front of journalists.

However, Mr Burgess has now said local retailers share these views.

“It's a general opinion that there are items that should be discussed in a closed environment,” said Mr Burgess. “Unfortunately press and local radio will be excluded from meetings so we can have full and frank discussions, some of which we don't want published. We will contact the press after meetings to discuss anything interesting.”

He also said questioned the future of the association if town centre businesses adopt a Business Improvement District (BID) in a vote expected to take place in April next year.

Under a BID, each business would pay between a 1 and 5 per cent levy, based on the rateable value of the size of their business, generating a possible £200,000 a year for town centre projects.

Mr Burgess said: “We're obviously looking to ensure that the BID goes ahead successfully. The future of the NRA will then be discussed at that point.”