Published at 11:33, Thursday, 22 November 2012

PUBLIC meetings and drop-in sessions are coming thick and fast as residents are urged to have their say on Copeland Council’s proposed budget cuts – but the lack of formal responses to the plans is surprising.

The Whitehaven News has been inundated with letters and online comments since the news broke in October. Petitions have been started and a Facebook campaign to save some of the under-threat facilities has thousands of supporters.

The public meetings so far, including MP Jamie Reed’s on Friday night, have attracted constructive comments, criticism and questions. So it comes a shock to learn that only 130 people have so far formally responded to the council’s consultation.

Do people think it’s a fait accompli, and that decisions will be taken regardless of what they feed back? Some will, there’s no doubt, as savings simply have to be made. But, equally, people need to respond officially (by December 7) if they want their views heard.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk