The latest story http://bit.ly/yjOEwt from my local Observer newspaper is only one part of a local debate about Stansted’s future health centre.  The Stansted Matters Facebook group has 260 members at the latest count. It is busy discussing the likes and dislikes of the planning application in Lower Street. This must be good for democracy. It allows people to bounce around their fears and hopes, dislikes and likes, and to organise leaflet drops – a more tradition medium of communication.

Not everyone is into blogging, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I know some people – even councillors – who loathe them or fear them; think they are for kids. Maybe they fear losing control; of having to listen to people who don’t want to turn up to long, boring meetings to make their views heard; or finding that there are more convincing views out there than their own.