PETITIONERS can now pursue their cause online after the launch of a council web scheme.
The move, which follows new rules governing how petitions are dealt with by the authority, will allow Cheshire West residents to make their views known from the comfort of their own home.
Residents will be able to set up a petition page on the authority’s website which will then be valid for a maximum of 12 months. To sign an e-petition all residents need to do is provide their name, postcode and valid email address.
Once an e-petition has been created it will automatically be submitted to the Cheshire West and Chester’s (CWaC) democratic services team.
CWaC leader Cllr Mike Jones said: “I am sure residents will find this new way of creating and submitting petitions to be safe, easily accessible and much more convenient than paper copies.
“CWaC has an open and transparent approach and this new scheme will allow residents to be able to see all petitions and their outcomes – bringing us closer to the people we represent.”
Petitions can be signed or organised by anyone who lives, works or studies in West Cheshire, including under-18s. Those attracting more than 750 names will be reviewed at an Overview and Scrutiny Committee while petitions with more than 1,500 names will trigger a full debate at council.
For more details go to www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/democracy_and_elections/petitions.aspx.
Paper petitions can still be sent to: Head of Legal and Democratic Services; Floor 4, HQ; 58 Nicholas Street, Chester; CH1 2NP.