Councillor turns blogger (From Gazette Series)

Councillor turns blogger

A VETERAN Cam and Dursley councillor has taken to cyberspace and become a blogger at the age of 72, together with a number of her Labour colleagues on Gloucestershire County Council.

Cllr Margaret Nolder now has an on-line diary, or "blog", through which the people she represents can read her informal views on council issues and activities from the comfort of their own homes.

"The blog is a chance for me to communicate with the electorate on a more personal level about what I am doing," Cllr Nolder said this week.

"Not everyone can get to a meeting, but blogs are another way I can gather opinions and communicate 24 hours a day 365 days a year."

She said there were some items on her blog already and she was aiming to update the diary at least once a week and, hopefully, more often than that.

"I have started and it's early days but I am very excited about it," she told the Gazette.

"It's a way to be a little bit more chatty about council affairs and with a bit of luck it will spark a little more interest in local government, particularly amongst the younger age group."

Maureen Rutter, leader of the Labour group and councillor for Stroud West, said blogging was an excellent way for councillors to keep in touch and a direct way of being held to account.

"It's a brilliant way for people to find out what's going on, and find out what I am doing," she said. "I have already had feedback from people visiting my blog."

To read any of the Labour group's blogs log on to www.gloucestershirelabour.org