Public Notices Must Stay with Local Papers

Feb 4 2010 by Mairon Laird, West Lothian Courier

MY letter is in response to the Courier article 'Public Notices must stay with local papers' of January 28 about the Scottish Government’s consultation proposal on allowing electronic publication of public notices by local authorities.

After reading the article I thought it best to visit the Scottish Government consultation page to obtain a clear understanding of the proposals.

The proposal would introduce a Public Information Notices portal, an internet site which would publicise all of Scotland's statutory public notices.

Within the consultation introduction, it refers to the proposals as being 'an alternative to the duty to advertise in printed media'.

In the next paragraph it states '…..Scottish councils have collectively identified a need to reduce advertising spend on public information notices...'

The Public Information Notices portal is a sensible idea.

However, this should support not replace the traditional form of placing public notices in local newspapers.

We now live in a world where the way in which people communicate and get information is changing thanks to the internet.

However, not everyone has a PC or knows how to use one.

Newspapers are a medium which are at the centre of every community and are essential in the relaying of important public information – without which could lead to major local issues being decided and implemented with very little or no public knowledge or debate.

People must be given the information on issues affecting their towns and communities. That means continuing the established practice of placing public notices in local newspapers.

Favouring online advertising over notices in local newspapers will also remove vital revenue from an industry which is already facing significant challenges.

I would urge anyone who has concerns about this proposal to participate in the consultation by logging onto http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/PINconsultation and let their views be known.

Please note the deadline for comments is February 12.

Simon Moore

Received by e-mail