A newly updated communications policy from Kempsey Parish Council has prompted some raised eyebrows – not so much for what it says, but for how communication is actually being handled in practice.
You might reasonably expect that a parish council keen on transparency would welcome engagement with local platforms and share updates widely. After all, the more informed residents are, the healthier local democracy tends to be.
Yet despite the updated policy, kempsey.co.uk continues to be blocked or ignored when seeking information or updates. Instead, official communications are channelled primarily through a monthly update in Kempsey Times – the printed successor to the old Klinks magazine.
There’s nothing wrong with a printed village publication. Many residents value it, and it still has its place. But relying on a once-a-month paper update in 2025 feels… selective, especially when faster, more accessible digital platforms already exist and reach a wider audience day-to-day.
The result is an odd contradiction: a communications policy that talks about openness, paired with a communications approach that limits who gets information and when.
We’re not asking for special treatment – just consistency. If information is being shared publicly, it should be shared publicly, not filtered by format or outlet. Villagers consume information in different ways now, and a modern communications strategy should reflect that reality.
As ever, kempsey.co.uk will continue to publish daily, report factually, and share updates that matter to residents – whether they arrive via official channels or have to be pieced together the long way round.
Transparency isn’t about control. It’s about trust.
