Government backs down over plans to move public notices online

Mar 18 2010 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

CONTROVERSIAL plans to stop using newspapers for public notices were in tatters last night after people power forced the Scottish Government into an embarrassing U-turn.

The Paisley Daily Express had helped to lead the way in a campaign to convince the government to rethink their penny-pinching proposals.

And, yesterday, Finance Secretary John Swinney agreed to ditch the plans after admitting they had failed to gather enough support.

People who had backed the campaign by every Buddie’s favourite newspaper last night spoke of their delight at the decision.

Linwood pensioner Philomena McMahon, 71, told the Express: “I thought this was going to be another one of these cases where the government brings something in through the back door and, before we know it, it’s happened.

“I’m absolutely delighted that they have now backed down. I’ll be telling all my friends at the line dancing about this because we’re all still talking about it.

“The Paisley Daily Express is to be congratulated. Keep up the good work!”

The SNP administration at Holyrood wanted to change the current rules so that councils could stop advertising public notices in local newspapers such as the Express and place them online instead.

But the cost-cutting move provoked an angry response from many of our readers and was also slammed by other local newspapers and politicians across Scotland.

Critics had warned that advertising the likes of planning applications and school and road closures online means they would not be seen by as many people.

A number of Express readers complained that they don’t have access to the internet and that the move to publish public notices online was undemocratic and amounted to discrimination.

Paisley South MSP Hugh Henry took the fight all the way to the Scottish Parliament.

During a debate, he highlighted the importance of the Express to the community of Renfrewshire and outlined what impact the planned changes would have.

And Buddies were encouraged to have their say by taking part in a public consultation into the proposals, which ended last month.

Yesterday, Mr Swinney confirmed the government was dropping the plans because they wouldn’t have been voted through Parliament.

He said: “The purpose of this legislation was to give councils the option of using a more effective way of improving communication with the public and deliver increased value for money.

“However, we consulted fully and widely on the issue and it is absolutely right that we have listened and considered our response carefully.

“Given the strength of views expressed, we have decided not to proceed with the legislation.”

Last night, Paisley Daily Express editor Anne Dalrymple welcomed the government’s decision.

She said: “I am delighted that common sense has prevailed. This is a victory for people power.

“Many of our readers had expressed concerns about these plans. They rely on the Paisley Daily Express for information about everything from planning applications to road closures and they would have missed out if this information was only available online.”

Mr Henry has congratulated all those involved in the campaign against the government’s plans.

He said: “I’m pleased that Alex Salmond and his ministers have finally seen sense.

“These proposals were anti-democratic and would have left communities without the information that they need to hold local politicians and officials to account.

“Right across Scotland, local papers like the Paisley Daily Express have campaigned to change this proposal and I am convinced that it was this pressure that has forced Alex Salmond to back down.

“What he was proposing would have taken vital revenue from newspapers and could have closed many of them.

“That was the last thing the local newspaper industry needed in a time of economic difficulty.

“I am delighted that the campaign to reverse this decision has been successful.”

And one pensioner from Paisley’s West End who was opposed to the plans added: “I’m absolutely delighted to hear this news because I think the proposals were a step in the wrong direction.

“How are we to know what’s happening in our town if it’s not in the local newspaper? The government must assume that everyone has got access to a computer.

“It’s a fact of life that most people like to read a paper. Well done to the Express for sticking with this and getting a reaction from the government.”