Too polite to be hyperlocal?

Could this be a reason why Hyperlocal may not work as a concept in the UK.

Russell Davies writes that

We live in an interesting area, there'd be stuff to write about. And every time I think, yes, I'll get on with it, I realise that writing about my neighbourhood worries me deeply. Because the people and shops and cafes are going to notice that you're writing about them, and if you're in any way critical they'll know and glare at you, and you're going to feel really bad. I would anyway. And doing it anonymously would be even worse and hugely destabilising to any real community.

Ht-Dom Rodwell