SPEAKERS CORNER 

A "Speakers' Corner" should be created in Derby, according to the city's Labour group. Councillor Ranjit Banwait is to put a motion to full council calling for a cross-party group to set up the initiative. As shadow cabinet member for community cohesion, he said his plan would bring people together to express options. No location is specified but Mr Banwait said obvious options would be the Sir Peter Hilton Memorial Gardens opposite the Council House, the Market Place or Cathedral Green.

Mr Banwait said, "This is an exciting and innovative idea to encourage members of the public to exercise their right to free speech and enjoy one of the major benefits of living in a democracy. From singing your favourite song, reciting a war poem on Remembrance Sunday, to getting things off your chest about the closure of public toilets, ordinary members of the public will be able to have their say and express themselves on whatever matters to them."

The idea has been backed by the Derby District Speakers' Club which has been around for 30 years and helps to train people in the art of public speaking. Its education director, Michael Holland, said, "We think this is a good idea and would support it. It would give people a better chance to put a view point across to a wider audience. This would allow them to stand in public and expand on points they have made in a letter or give a speech, which would be great."

Mr Banwait said there would have to be agreement by the cross-party working group about how the corner should operate.and added, "It is about reminding us all about the benefits of living in a democracy, while understanding that there are legal and ethical boundaries of what we can and can not say in public. For example, yes it is our right to disagree with a Government policy but it is wrong to break the law in agitating against it." (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Apr/09)

An area behind the waterfall in the Market Place will be the location for a new speakers' corner. The idea for the area, where budding orators can recite poetry or get issues off their chest, was approved by Derby City Council in July. Now the council's cabinet is setting up a steering group to draw up guidelines for use of the space and has given £500 towards it. The move followed a suggestion from Labour councillor Ranjit Banwait, who hoped it would encourage public speaking and open debate. Mr Banwait said, "It is great that this has now been agreed. I hope it will encourage people to exercise their right to free speech, it's about democracy."