Consultation extended after email delays - Somerset

From the Somerset Guardian

The deadline for comments on plans for Traveller sites in Bath and North East Somerset was given a last-minute extension last week because of email problems at the council.

Campaigners fighting plans to create a traveller site on Bath Old Road, Radstock, contacted the Somerset Guardian just after we had gone to press last Wednesday to tell us they were having trouble sending their views by email to B&NES.

A spokesman for the council confirmed there was a problem because the generic planning email had reached the maximum allowance in the inbox and therefore emails sent by residents bounced back.

Andy Saxton, of Bath Old Road Action Group, said: "Bath Old Road do not accept that volume of emails received should be used as an excuse for lack of capacity.

"This has been the second event in a month when B&NES have been unable to receive emails. We are concerned that this again calls into doubt the consultation process."

B&NES extended the deadline by 24 hours to give people the chance to resubmit comments but opponents of the plans fear people may not have realised their email submissions had not been included.

Clarke Osborne, of the Stanton Wick Action Group, urged people who submitted emails on July 17 or 18 to resubmit them in case they have not been received.

Mr Osborne added: "This is not the first time B&NES email service has caused problems with this consultation process, but for it to happen on the day of deadline when it was obvious that scores of people would be sending their representations by email, is shocking.

"Many people may not check their email now, or realise it has not been received. It is further evidence of a process that's been completely flawed from the start and poorly executed throughout; it's appalling that the catalogue of errors now includes B&NES' inability to even effectively receive email submissions on the deadline day of a crucial consultation process."

The results of the consultation will be known in September.