This blog accompanies my writing for the press in London and Spain, as well as Belfast and Dublin. All of the NUJ are now aware of this blog, both in Scotland and Belfast, and shortly in London as well.
This is the latest letter sent to the authorities, this time the Information Commissioner’s office:
Further to my letter of 8th December and your kind response of 12th December, there have been more developments regarding the Highland Council, in particular, Stuart Black, using my private and personal address for his own purposes. The matter revolves around the project the North Highland Way which Mr. Black has consistently refused to assist with, despite saying that he would in 2008. This is the second time I have been told not to contact THC as I am using up their resources. If they told the truth and provided the information in a timely manner I would not have to keep contacting them. The project is for the benefit of the community, not my company, but Mr. Black has used all kinds of tactics to prevent the project going ahead.
While I appreciate the problems with the development of the Way are not within your remit, Mr. Black’s blatant use of my personal and private address is a matter of concern, particularly as I told him quite plainly that he should respond to my business address. Mr. Watters of the Highland Council was given my address for the purposes of sending me a CD. In the past I have been able to access information without having to provide a copy of my driving licence, but on this occasion I was obliged to produce it as evidence of my address. I enclose a copy of Mr. Black’s letter. He obtained my address from Mr. Watters. I did not give my permission for my contact details to be kept on file. Under GDPR this is a serious offence.
I look forward to hearing from you, and I refer again to my letter of 8th December. If you would be kind enough to pass any information to the relevant authority if they are not within your remit, I should be obliged if you could do so.
Not even the CEO of the Highland Council is responding now. At least Steve Barron used to respond and made a lot of sense.
http://www.northhighlandway.co.uk