I have now heard more about what has happened, and I have seen the letter from Westbury Pub Watch (which contains a list of self-evident false claims and exaggerations as well as a 'reply to' address of Westbury Police Station).
I am appalled at the bad behaviour of Westbury Pub Watch in trying to slime a councillor via the media - and without discussing the matter with the councillor first - for successfully doing his job.
Mike C-M was the person who pushed everyone - including the Police - to act to deal with the problem of street drinkers causing hassle. He called the recent meeting in Westbury led by Anti-Social Behavior Officers from Wiltshire Council, in his capacity as the local Wiltshire Councillor. This meeting with the Police has led to action to deal with the problem.
At no stage did Mike say the pubs were involved. And, no mention was made of Pub Watch - because it was not involved either (ie. it has done nothing).
White Horse News wrote the article and quoted numerous people about the problem, including 15-year old girls. Mike did not write the article, he simply answered questions and explained what is happening.
It is simply not on for a body that has requested a representative from the town council to then pick and choose who that rep will be. That is a decision for the council only.
It is even worse - libelous - to make allegations in writing that Mike C-M has done anything wrong and has caused damage to anything when, in fact, he was simply dealing with the problem to remove it and when it was the newspaper that wrote ONE article.
As far as I am concerned, this is extremely bad behaviour on the part of a self-interested industry body that has gone to the media in an attempt to malign a very busy councillor with a twisted tale as if he has done something wrong.
This bad behaviour will now need to be discussed at a public meeting of the town council.
Westbury Pub Watch has some serious explaining to do ... and is now in danger of being expelled from the town council's list of bodies that it supports.
And - just to emphasise how seriously I view this bad, disgraceful and foolish behaviour by Westbury Pub Watch ...... this matter will be dealt with at the next Westbury Area Board meeting of Wiltshire Council on 16 September.