BRIDGWATER Constituency Conservatives were forced into an embarrassing climb-down on the eve of the polls yesterday (Thursday) after a second furore over electioneering material. Tory county council candidate Colin Hill has already sparked a police investigation after allegations by his Independent and Liberal Democrat rivals in Minehead division that he breached election law in a campaign leaflet. And the incident was followed this week by a letter from his agent and Bridgwater Constituency Conservative Association president Jean Gibbons encouraging voters to support Mr Hill, who is also deputy leader of West Somerset District Council. The letter, sent to just under 100 Conservative association members, urged them not to vote for Minehead division candidate John Malin, who recently resigned from the Tories to stand as an Independent. It also claimed that the current plans for the controversial key sites development in Minehead had "nothing to do with the county council". In fact, the land is jointly owned by both the county and the district councils and a partnership deal between the two authorities was formally signed a year ago. But in her letter Mrs Gibbons also warned members: "Above all do not believe all you read in the Free Press which is a mine of misinformation and half truths." Asked exactly what she was alluding to in her libellous statement, a clearly unrepentant Mrs Gibbons told the Free Press: "It's not related to any particular story. "It's a general perception on what is written in the Free Press every week in relation to the development in Minehead." Asked how she could justify or defend her statement, Mrs Gibbons said: "You don't know that I can't defend it." Mrs Gibbons said she did not believe any agreement had been signed between the county council and district council over the proposed Minehead development and insisted that all the plans had been drawn up by the district authority. However, after several phone calls from the Free Press to Conservative constituency headquarters, the party's local electoral agent Nick Evelyn, whose name appeared on the bottom of the letter as its promoter and printer, was forced to send out another letter to the recipients of Mrs Gibbons' missive, from Free Press editor Gareth Purcell. In it Mr Purcell demanded the immediate retraction of Mrs Gibbons' libellous reference, pointing out that it was unfounded in fact, an unsubstantiated slur on the integrity of the newspaper and its staff and, in the context of seeking votes for Mr Hill, jeopardised the paper's reputation for editorial impartiality. Mr Purcell demanded that his letter should be forwarded "without delay" to mitigate the damage caused to the reputation of the Free Press and its editorial staff. The letter, sent by first class post on Wednesday, was accompanied by a covering note from Mr Evelyn stating that its contents were "self explanatory". In her letter, Mrs Gibbons said that canvassing returns showed quite clearly that Mr Malin could not win the Minehead division but, if he took some Conservative votes from Mr Hill, it was likely that Liberal Democrat Ian Galloway would benefit. "It is particularly important that we do not lose the Minehead seat this time as the Conservatives have a very good chance of taking over in County Hall which will be of benefit to all of us." Mrs Gibbons went on to say that the county council dealt mainly with education, social services and transport and that any Tory members not in favour of the development proposals in Minehead should write to their district councillor - one of whom is Mr Hill. Leader of the Tory-controlled district council Cllr Steven Pugsley confirmed to the Free Press that the legally binding 'memorandum of understanding' between the authority and the county council for the Minehead development was signed last April or May. He said there now existed a formal partnership between the two councils for the proposals. In addition to new civic offices, the plans for an area stretching from the railway to Vulcan Road include a speculative development of offices and trade units, a conference centre/council chamber and a new library - a facility which is the responsibility of the county council.
