J SHARPE, of Kingsteignton, writes:
Today, January 2, I received my copy of the Kingsteignton Parish Council newsletter, issue 4/2008. I notice the first article is about the fact that Kingsteignton village will achieve town status as from January 1, 2009 and the reasons why this is to our benefit.
I notice that in this article it is mentioned that the publicity given to approve this change of status was a mention in the Press more than two weeks, creating the comment of 'very little response'.
Why was this instrument of council business not advertised on the local notice boards displayed around the village – sorry, town – and why was the instrument not mentioned in newsletter number three, along with a simple yes/no cut-out coupon which could have been placed in boxes around the town, eg library, council office or post offices, by members of the public? Along with the newspaper publicity, this would have been a more democratic procedure.
As the council bothers to erect and maintain notice boards and publish newsletters throughout the year, why did they not use these two means of communication to overcome the public apathy they complain about?
Quietly, I think councils rather enjoy public apathy so they can practice their style of 'mushroom farming management', ie keep them in the dark and occasionally open the door and throw in some fertiliser, – the handling of this instrument of council business gives that impression.