Smart council officers outsmart attempts to game consultations

Smart and tech savvy council officers are weeding out attempts by anti-active travel campaigners to game consultations.  Over the last couple of years, officers working for several councils have spotted attempts to corrupt consultation results such as false names, false addresses and multiple internet submissions from the same IP address. And officers are now taking steps to ensure consultation responses satisfy the Department for Transport’s statutory guidance that they should reflect the local population.   

This post pulls together reports where a few councils have reported the results of their officers’ work … and a few councils which don’t bother.

What are the councils up to? November & December 2021 edition

An aide memoire of items I’ve noted from the boroughs where I work, rest and play, in case it is of use to others.

Here’s a link back to September and October 2021’s editions if you want to rummage backwards.

December 2021

Consultations closing

• Closing 4 Jan, Wandworth Council’s consultation on its air quality action plan through 2025.
• Closing 9 Jan, Tower Hamlets plans for the CS3 route https://talk.towerhamlets.gov.uk/poplar-high-street-improvements
• Closing 27 Jan’22, TfL’s consultation on a new staggered pedestrian crossing on the A23 in Streatham’s race track at Gracefield Gardens, north of the Odeon.
• Closing 2 Feb’22, TfL’s consultation on new black taxi fares.

What are the councils up to? September & October 2021 edition

An aide memoire of items I’ve noted from the boroughs where I work, rest and play, in case it is of use to others.

Here’s a link back to July and August 2021’s round-up if you want to rummage backwards.

October 2021

Consultations closing

• Closing 21 Nov, Surrey County Council’s consultation on the Guildford – Godalming greenway (on the commonplace platform).  Surreys’ high-traffic pro-driving antis are very anti this one.
• Closing 30 Nov, National Highways (ex Highways England) are collecting ideas for investments on the motorway and A road networks – press release, explanation, and survey tool.
• Closing 9 Dec, DfT’s consultation on a proposed Road Accident Investigation Branch.
• Closing 14 December, Lambeth Council’s consultation on school streets introduced in 2020 under temporary or experimental traffic orders

What are the councils up to? July & August 2021 edition

An aide memoire of items I’ve noted from the boroughs where I work, rest and play, in case it is of use to others.

Here’s a link back to May and June 2021’s round-up if you want to rummage backwards.

August 2021

Consultations closing

• Closing 3 10 September, Wandsworth Council’s consultation to gather ideas for the walking and cycling strategy.  With news announcement. Lord knows why the council is doing this during the August summer holiday.  Extended to 10 Sept.
• Closing 6 Sept, Merton Council’s consultation on the “Local Plan”.
• Closing 6 October, TfL’s proposals for a post-pandemic congestion charge zone M-F 0700-1800.