RFD: remove uk.local groups

[Paul Cummins]

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REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)

This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the following changes
in the uk.* Usenet hierarchy:

delete newsgroup uk.local.bedfordshire
delete newsgroup uk.local.borders-region
delete newsgroup uk.local.bristol
delete newsgroup uk.local.channel-islands
delete newsgroup uk.local.county-durham
delete newsgroup uk.local.essx
delete newsgroup uk.local.herefordshire
delete newsgroup uk.local.lincolnshire
delete newsgroup uk.local.lothians
delete newsgroup uk.local.merseyside
delete newsgroup uk.local.north-staffs
delete newsgroup uk.local.peterborough
delete newsgroup uk.local.shropshire
delete newsgroup uk.local.thames-valley



*** ALL DISCUSSION MUST TAKE PLACE IN UK.NET.NEWS.CONFIG ***

This is not a Call for Votes (CFV); you cannot vote at this time.
Further procedural details are given below.

RATIONALE: uk.local-removegroups

It is customary on the UK hierarchy for use of groups to be monitored,
and, where necessary, moribund and dead groups to be culled.

The uk.local sub-hierarchy has long been underused, and it is clear that
a number of groups extant are either spam-traps or entirely redundant.

As such, it is proposed that these moribund groups be removed to focus
what little activity remains on the hierarchy into active groups.

Groups for removal:

uk.local.bedfordshire
uk.local.borders-region
uk.local.bristol
uk.local.channel-islands
uk.local.county-durham
uk.local.essx
uk.local.herefordshire
uk.local.lincolnshire
uk.local.lothians
uk.local.merseyside
uk.local.north-staffs
uk.local.peterborough
uk.local.shropshire
uk.local.thames-valley

None of the above groups have has more than three postings in the last 12
months.


CHARTER:
uk.local.*

The hierarchy is for groups to discuss issues and announce events
related to recognised and identifiable locations and regions within
the United Kingdom, or in territories closely associated with
it. Groups will be created in the form: uk.local.<area-name> or in the
form: uk.local.<area-name>.<subcategory>. <area-name> is the area to
be covered by the group (and <subcategory> can be used or extended as
necessary). The <area-name> shall be that which is in everyday usage
or an alias that is commonly understood.

Other, more suitable, hierarchies shall be used for fictional,
imaginary or virtual locations."

Messages posted to groups in this hierarchy must not be cross-posted
to more than a TOTAL of four uk.local.* newsgroups; these may be
geographically adjacent or overlapping, or connected by the subject of
the post (e.g. "moving house from Manchester to Birmingham").

Note that the advertising of widely-available goods or services is
*not* relevant in this context, and that most uk.local.* groups have
restrictions on advertising, or prohibit it. Cross-posted adverts,
where allowed, must meet the requirements of the charters of *all*
groups involved.

A paragraph to this effect, must be included in any future charter for
a group in this hierarchy.

END CHARTER

PROCEDURE:

This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes. In this phase of
the process, any potential problems with the proposal should be raised
and resolved. The discussion period will continue for a minimum of 10
days, starting from when this RFD is posted to uk.net.news.announce
(i.e. until April 3rd) after which a Call For Votes (CFV) may be
posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion warrants it.
Alternatively, the proposal may proceed by the fast-track method. Please
do not attempt to vote until this happens.

This RFD attempts to comply fully with the "Guidelines for Group Creation
within the UK Hierarchy" as published regularly in uk.net.news.announce
and is available from http://www.usenet.org.uk/guidelines.html (the UK
Usenet website). Please refer to this document if you have any questions
about the process.

DISTRIBUTION:

This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups:
uk.net.news.announce
uk.net.news.config
uk.local.bedfordshire
uk.local.borders-region
uk.local.bristol
uk.local.channel-islands
uk.local.county-durham
uk.local.essx
uk.local.herefordshire
uk.local.lincolnshire
uk.local.lothians
uk.local.merseyside
uk.local.north-staffs
uk.local.peterborough
uk.local.shropshire
uk.local.thames-valley

Proponent:
Paul Cummins <paulc...@gstgroup.co.uk>

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