Idle gossip (7)
(Other definitions for hearsay that I've seen before include "Based on report given by others" , "Testimony not based on direct knowledge" , "Gossip passed around by word of mouth" , "Gossip or rumour - not allowed as evidence" , "Gossip or idle talk - it's not evidence" .)
'idle gossip' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for talk of the town that I've seen before include "(Subject of) local gossip" , "What everyone's gossiping about" .)