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Hyperlocal site claims hits boost over planning coverage

A hyperlocal news website’s claims its coverage of controversial plans to build more than 1,000 new homes across its patch has seen it gain hundreds of new readers.

QLocal Ormskirk has been reporting on development plans which could see the new homes built on areas of farmland as part of West Lancashire Borough Council’s Local Plan.

The site has publicised the campaigns by the Burscough Action Group and Aughton Residents Group, which between them are fighting plans to build more than 1,000 new homes locally.

News editor Roger Blaxall told HTFP he had attended numerous public meetings about the plans and said coverage of the events had resulted in hundreds of extra readers for the website.

He also claimed he was banned from taking photos at one meeting of Aughton Parish Council but said he had not had further problems with this since a new chairman was elected.

Said Roger: “This is very much a ‘live’ news story and as such has attracted new readers to the site, who have been keen to comment on the plans which they see as being bulldozed through by the West Lancashire Borough Council.

“Bread and butter stories like this are core to QLocal.”

QLocal is a network of community news websites in the North West.

Sister site QLocal Southport has also been involved in covering a similar story in the village of Halsall where more than 200 homes are planned to be built.