WE welcome the admission from Witney Town Council mayor Peter Dorward that he will not vote to force his democratically elected colleagues to seek written permission before talking to the press.

We revealed earlier this month the clause in the council’s proposed new media policy that would effectively gag any councillor from speaking out without some controlling influence at the council agreeing.

The logical conclusion was that if a councillor wished to tell the public through the media they disagreed with a council decision, permission could be refused, which rather flies in the face of a free and democratic system.

Mr Dorward has stated publicly his position. Let’s hope other councillors who previously have not given an indication on their views remember they are members of a locally elected organisation and not a cosy members-only club.