Threat to press scrutiny of local authorities

The long-standing legal right of journalists to inspect local authority accounts for stories could be under threat following a Court of Appeal hearing, HoldtheFrontPage warns today.
It says that waste management company Veolia ES Nottinghamshire has been seeking to keep details of a multi-million pound PFI project in the county out of public scrutiny.
HTFP adds: "A High Court judge rejected its bid but the company appealed and the case was heard last week. The judgment, expected shortly, could threaten journalists' right to write stories based on information gathered during the annual 'four-week audit' period in which local authority accounts are open for public inspection."