MPs want traffic orders kept in local newspapers

MPs from the West Midlands have called on the Government to reconsider plans to let councils stop publishing details of road closures and traffic orders in local newspapers.

They have written to transport secretary Justine Greening and transport minister Norman Baker warning that the money saving scheme, which would allow councils to put details on the internet instead, would deprive pensioners and people without internet access of vital information.

The Department for Transport believes councils across the country could save £20 million a year. It plans to let authorities use "whatever ways they consider appropriate" such as Facebook, Twitter and their own websites.

The editors of the Express & Star and Shropshire Star have written to local MPs to highlight the issue.

The Express & Star has called on them to support its opposition to the DfT's plans to let councils stop placing public notices on changes to road regulations in papers like the Express & Star.

Business leaders and pensioners have also expressed concerns that the changes will mean people will not know where to get details of closures and other roadworks.

Today a number of MPs asked for a rethink. Ian Austin, Labour MP for Dudley North, said that when he was a minister he blocked similar proposals relating to planning notices because they would "restrict the general public's opportunity to have their say on important local changes".

He added: "It's worth considering that many people - often the elderly - do not have access to the internet and so the changes proposed by the DfT could have a disproportionate impact on them in particular."

In a letter to Mr Baker Walsall South MP Valerie Vaz said: "Road traffic regulations should be advertised in local newspapers. In my view local people are unlikely to read leaflets but an advert like a planning notice is an official statement and is often accentuated in a newspapers."

Walsall North MP David Winnick said he had raised the "likely negative impact" with the transport secretary Justine Greening.

However Liberal Democrat minister Mr Baker said: "In the interests of localism and the need to use scarce resources as effectively as possible, the Coalition Government believes it is appropriate to review the regulations in relation to the requirement to advertise proposed and made traffic orders in local newspapers.

"The proposals would let the relevant local authority decide the most appropriate ways to communicate with their target audience.

"This may well include continuing to advertise in local newspapers, but this would be for the authority itself to decide."

* If you are concerned about the proposals, email letters@expressandstar.co.uk or write using the contact details on page 9 by April 23.