North Devon’s pothole posts: Digging the wrong hole?

All rise.

The council of Facebook is now in session; please be seated.

On today’s agenda is potholes, why does Bideford and Barnstaple go to gridlock?

What about the Tarka Trail and the rail link to Bideford?

And finally a petition from a member of the public who has not attended any parish, town or district meeting or written into the  public consultation.

Engagement with the public on social media can be ‘interesting’.

Some councils and councillors write on social media but there is a standing order against officers making comments.

Councillors can express opinions and gain an idea of what mood the public are taking any proposal but there are standing orders that all councils abide by; other councillors only listen to those who write letters/emails to them and hear constituents speak in council meetings under ‘Public participation’.

What is interesting is the public opinion that social media sites such as Facebook are taken as factual!

One item I put on the agenda ‘Potholes’, is debated on social media to the point that people write on posts that have nothing to do with the subject.

‘Bloom judges are impressed by Barnstaple’ comment “Blooming in potholes”, Proposed rail link to Bideford “Fix the potholes first”.

Maybe this is as good a time to explain that funding for floral judging or for a rail link cannot be used to fix potholes. Would anyone dare put such a remark on a post that says funding found for a new foodbank?

Allocated funding for various projects MUST fit the funding programme.

When the Barnstaple to Exeter North Devon line gets the funding for a much-needed infrastructure and capacity upgrade, people cannot argue that they wanted the funding used on potholes, social-housing or even a new school as it does not fit the metric.

Ring-fenced funding can only be used for that specific purpose and cannot ever be for other programmes; if you do not agree with how our authority’s have worked on these successful bids to central government then you can write to the public consultation or attend a council meeting to raise your concerns.

If you really wanted to make a difference, you could attend your local council meetings to gather facts before posting an  opinion on social media or how about becoming a councillor by asking to be co-opted when a council vacancy arises?

If you have a petition, have you checked it fits with the relevant policies or have you based it on personal opinion?

So, before you crack you knuckles and begin typing think about what really is the desired outcome of your post or comment.

No council looks to see who gained the most likes but certain comments that are relevant can be seen as a common thread of thought and some councillors may bring this to the meeting.

New housing developments for Northern Devon are being built annually and that is not set to change under the new government.

We need the infrastructure to be balanced to support the housing.

Being opposed to housing is understandable but that does not help the North Devon and Torridge Housing Crises campaign.

Being opposed to the rail link to Bideford does not help sort our the potholes as more vehicles mean these holes are going to become a common sight as is the gridlock traffic.

Well done to all the local campaigners who are fighting to better your communities by doing more than posting on social media.

Would Great Western Railway have unveiled a national map with the Bideford proposed line reinstatement at their annual 22nd June conference if there was no campaign?