“Now if councillor Ibbs is saying he is very happy with the press department, but mayor Meredith is getting publicity that shows him as a fool, then does this mean this is what councillor Ibbs wants? Are Ibbs and Meredith best pals or worst enemies? I've often wondered. Maybe poor Mark isn't as paranoid as people say he is, maybe they really ARE out to get him. Now this was a letter of a nature that ought to have remained internal, so who leaked it? One of the above in this article or someone else?
And as for councillor Ibbs, I too have sent him perfectly polite emails raising very legitimate concerns over schools and he will not reply. Actually the 'abusive' email he described just sounded as if it were from a parent who was for good reason rather upset. Now if I get emails from anyone I have some responsibility for in connection with my work, who seems to be in distress, the very last thing I do is ignore them.”

“The Sentinel should consider itself extremely lucky to have been able to obtain a comment from the elusive Cllr Ibbs - it's more than his own constituents are able to achieve. After the EMB meeting on Wednesday, he told a group of parents and residents from Trentham and Longton - none of whom had received replies to emails sent to him in his capacity as elected representative for Trentham and/or his Portfolio position - that he had imposed a 'blanket ban' on replying to our emails due to 'abusive' messages he had received (doubtful). All said with a reporter from The Sentinel standing behind him, such is his arrogance. My own email to him, going as far back as January, were courteous, civil and polite, as I am sure, are the majority of those he has received. He won't reply because his constituents, along with the rest of the city's electorate, are mere irritants not worthy of his time - and this man is responsible now for the future education of our children!”