Newsquest Launches Powerful New Public Notices Platform

Newsquest has announced the launch of a new online public notices platform that enables the public to be better informed about local decisions.

The new responsive website delivers added value to local councils by extending the reach of their statutory notices in print, to the huge digital audiences of Newquest’s local websites, many of which now reach over 70 per cent of their local population.  

Key features of the new service include:

• Hyperlocal search – search by distance and local authority;
• Email alerts – set multiple locations and receive relevant notices;
• Two-way conversation and social media sharing – share, comment, write to your MP or council for each notice;
• Dedicated local authority pages – view notices by council and access their contact details. Future updates will include information on council services, news and updates.

The new public notices platform has been in live beta since November last year and is now live across all 160 of Newsquest’s local sites such as the Daily Echo. 

Henry Faure Walker, chief executive, Newsquest Media Group, said: “In order to make sure the public is kept properly informed it’s essential that local councils and Government bodies continue to use their local newspaper to advertise their notices in print and online. 

“Our local news websites now regularly reach over 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the population of their local towns and cities.  There is no media platform with this scale of local audience penetration and no better place for local authorities to communicate with their local residents.   Local councils squirrelling important notices away in a dark corner of their own websites is not a viable alternative.”