Dunmow Broadcast - Website up for national award

Dunmow Broadcast - Website up for national award: A WEBSITE launched to inform the community about Stansted Airport expansion plans submitted by BAA to Uttlesford District Council has been shortlisted for a national accolade.

Stansted Explained went online in June and has been nominated for the Community Involvement 2007 Local Government Chronicle Awards.

The website allows people to keep up-to-date with the latest planning developments and watch live webcasts, download podcasts and read blogs.

UDC's director for communities, Tracy Turner, said: "We are extremely pleased the council's efforts to fully involve the community in the Stansted Airport planning issues have been recognised as excellent practice.

"People can register for news via text messages, email and RSS feed, submit comments, read blogs by councillors and listen to podcasts.

"The website is an effective way in keeping abreast of news as and when it happens and it takes community involvement to a fresh and different level."

Ms Turner added the website proved particularly popular during the council's public engagement week in July, when a series of meetings were held to discuss BAA's application to remove the passenger cap limiting the annual number of passengers using Stansted Airport to 25 million.

Ms Turner said: "In the first three months the site recorded more than

5000 visitors and almost 17,000 page views, mainly from the UK, but also from as far afield as Canada and Australia.

"By the end of 2006, the visitor figure was close to 10,000 and the webcast facility was of particular value, with almost 2300 visitors having tuned in to follow proceedings in the council chamber by the time the final decision was taken on November 29."

The national awards for local government are recognised across the sector as the mark of excellence, praising authorities for the difference they make in their communities.

Ruth Kelly, the secretary of state for communities and local government, said: "This is an exciting and challenging time for those in local government.

"It is clear to me that there is a lot of important and excellent work being carried out by local authorities across the country."

You can view the websiteby logging onto www.stanstedexplained.info

UDC will discover if they have won at a gala evening on March 12 at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.