27 Apr 2023
One of the liberties of social media is the freedom to present unsubstantiated conspiracy theories as fact. But without the verification which accompanies professional journalism, there is an inherent danger in offering up half-baked arguments as the results of legitimate and detailed research, as opposed to opinion and conjecture.
Fortunately the majority of St Albans Facebook groups discourage the presentation of speculation and rumour as facts and curtail any false allegations, but there is always one rebel in the mix…
One of the latest theories doing the rounds on fledgling Facebook page St Albans Voice suggests a wide-spanning “masterplan” aimed at closing down St Albans Charter Market and replacing it with al fresco drinking and regular live music events in St Peter’s Street, all apparently to line the pockets of a small group of mainly Lib Dem supporters.
The suggestion is that this cabal of influencers will benefit financially from big brand sponsorship, and will transform the city centre into a venue for open air festivals, lined with pop-up bars and eateries, with trade driven largely by tourists travelling in from London.
Additionally, Ask for Clive, a St Albans-based charity that partners with venues to promote inclusion and to create welcoming environments for the LGBTQ+ community, has been accused of being complicit in this scheme, including the allegation that the annual Pub Pride event which it organises locally and across the country is somehow at the heart of the masterplan.
Other suggestions include the wild claim that there is a campaign to introduce Lib Dem orange into various aspects of local life, including St Albans City FC and Mix 92.6 (the former Radio Verulam), in order to subliminally influence voters ahead of May’s district council elections, and that rival Facebook groups have been taken over by the Liberal Democrats, with any dissenting viewpoints immediately shut down.
Many of the comments posted on St Albans Voice are defamatory towards individuals and therefore cannot be repeated. They go beyond the concept of free speech and are instead extremely damaging both professionally and personally. Like many keyboard warriors, there are some members of the group who are using it as a platform for their own vendettas, and fail to appreciate the toll their comments are taking on their targets’ professional reputation or mental wellbeing.
The St Albans Times decided to fact-check many of the theories presented as truth in this group, and put senior representatives from the district council in the spotlight to distinguish rumour from reality.
This meant they were unable to hide away from our questions or refuse to confront the claims on Facebook, while ensuring our readers were best placed to make up their own minds about what has been said.
With the Charter Market at the heart of the “masterplan” theory, confirming its continued survival was the first step, regardless of the controversy surrounding gazebos versus traditional stalls which has dominated debates over the past few years.
Council officer Chris Traill, strategic director for community and place delivery at SADC, told us: “The market has been a vibrant and much-loved feature of the city centre for more than 1,000 years and continues to be so. The council has invested, and continues to invest, resources and support to ensure it remains a popular attraction for the benefit of our residents and the local economy.”
In order to address the issue of large-scale events taking place in St Peter’s Street, we asked what additional manpower is
required to police them, and how regular are these events allowed to be under licensing restrictions?
A spokesperson for SADC explained: “We organise three street festivals a year using a local security company to support their safe running. We will have around 21 security staff at this year’s Alban Festival which is in line with national guidance. There is provision for holding three street events annually in the letters patent that set out the market’s ownership rights.”
But what are the cost implications of running big events like the Alban Weekend? Could the profit made off-set the loss of the Charter Market?
The spokesperson added: “We do not make a profit from the three street festival events. The markets budget is expected to break even this financial year, 2023/24, before returning to profit from next year.”
So not only are the major events which take place in St Peter’s Street not-for-profit, but the Charter Market itself, allegedly being run into the ground and replaced with city centre festivals, has turned a financial corner and is no longer a loss-making venture. The “masterplan” theory effectively falls at the first hurdle.
So far so good. But we wanted to hear from the politicians who have been running SADC for the past few years – with the person best placed to answer our questions being council leader Cllr Chris White.
We asked him how important the Charter Market is to the city of St Albans, both in terms of residents and visitors?
“It’s difficult to overstate the importance of the market!” Cllr White insisted.
“During the pandemic the Conservatives and some journalists (not local!) were demanding that it be shut down. I refused. It is so exciting seeing it week by week going from strength to strength and we want to see it keep on growing.
“It is part of St Albans and other businesses benefit from the additional footfall brought on Wednesdays and Saturdays in particular.”
We wanted to know whether SADC would ever consider closing down the market in order to allow more large-scale events in the city centre?
“Never, never, never. There’s plenty of space for both markets and events. But the market comes first. Putting events before the market is just crazy talk.”
These responses offer little room for manoeuvre if, in the future, Cllr White or his party should take any steps which act to damage the market at the expense of major events. In going on the record here, he has effectively pledged his commitment to its future growth.
Not all members of St Albans Voice are convinced by the theories bandied around on its pages however, with some rational arguments challenging the claims. Unfortunately, many of the more outspoken commentators are accused of being Lib Dem sympathisers and banned from the group, so individuals have to take a clever approach to escape censure.
In a series of responses where the writer’s tongue was obviously wedged firmly in his cheek, the thrust of the “masterplan” was torn apart with aplomb.
The author posted: “So just to clarify, you are saying that Danny Clare and Daisy Cooper have created a charity with the ostensibly laudable aim of countering discrimination against LGBTQ people in pubs, but it is in fact a front to make money from an event called Pub Pride, and as part of that plan St Albans District Council have deliberately chosen to close down the market in St Albans so there is more space to make money out of Pub Pride.
“As part of this plot they have set up an event called Pub Pride – which charges pubs around the UK £50 to become a partner in the event – meaning the charity stands to get a couple of thousand pounds from the event. Not much for a conspiracy of this size, but I suppose you have to start somewhere…
“There must be a connection to Herts County Council though – someone there must be under the influence to get the High Street shut so Pub Pride can make money. So must be Conservative Party connection to discover too – someone in County Hall who has been given fifty quid or so to vote for the road closures.
“Pretty outrageous for our local MP to be promoting tourism in the city, and encouraging people to use local businesses. And she has the cheek to stand up in Parliament and say that people in her constituency are paying too much for their rail fares. Is there nothing she will not stoop to? But she can’t be acting alone, this has to be part of a bigger scheme to encourage visitors to St Albans – I really want to know who is behind it all.”
Anyone still questioning the validity of the so-called “masterplan” has only to follow the same degree of logic expressed in these comments. It just doesn’t wash.
Away from the market and the Lib Dem conspiracy St Albans Voice also features disparaging claims surrounding 15-minute cities, anti-Covid vaccine activists, and allusions to some sort of world conspiracy involving journalists and multi-national conglomerates covering up the truth about climate change through a combination of bribery, blackmail and brainwashing.
It really has to be seen to be believed.
