Campaigner calls for consultation uptake statistics to be made accessible to get more responses

A campaigner for the heritage of Sefton is urging his local authority to publish as broadly as possible the running statistics of participant uptake in a series of ongoing online consultations regarding infrastructure improvements to drive a greater uptake moving forwards.

David Barton is advocating for a more thorough approach that would enable people to feel more involved as well as improve the level of date influencing major decision making such as which funding grants to apply for covering any one part of the Borough. Mr. Barton maintains this would be better viewed by the awarding funding bodies in Westminster, give people an incentive to take part, and continue participating.

Mr. Barton says: “As someone that has been regulalrly completing the online consultations and indeed encouraging others to do so, I can only emphasise the importance of showing people how their responses are utilised, especially regarding cumulative uptake by people based in and around the Borough. With so many major decisions ranging from concept progress for funding grant applications to the literal structuring of the built and natural environments through the main highways and flooding defenses, it cannot be left for others to provide their contributions when these people may in fact be unable to for any reason.

“If Sefton Council wishes to not adopt in person canvassing as I did when I assisted residents then they must, with all their resources available to them, ensure that they are doing everything they can to not only grow, but retain community engagement.”