Mobile app tells residents about changes in their local area

A new mobile app has been released  which tells residents in Hertfordshire about changes in their area. The ‘Notice Herts’ app provides convenient access to information about planning, transport and licencing applications and local emergency services together with events and places to visit in the local area, and recommended traders.

The free app is the work of a new partnership of Hertfordshire councils, a local newspaper group, technology companies, and charities who were selected to run an innovative central government pilot using technology to make public notices clearer, simpler, and in a place the public will access them.

In a recent focus group with Hertfordshire residents, less than a fifth of the group said they currently access public notices, yet over four out of five people admitted to being interested in these developments happening in their local area.

Notice Herts aims to bridge the gap between notices in local papers and information on council websites. Covering Hertfordshire County Council and the districts of Dacorum, Three Rivers, East Herts and Watford, the app features:

• Notices of planning applications, road changes and licensing applications (sex and alcohol establishments) based on geographical location.
• Local 'blue light' services.
• Local events and places of interest locally.
• Approved local tradespeople.

‘Notice Herts’ is available on Android and iOS, from Google Play or the Apple Store and more content will be added during the coming weeks.

The partnership includes: Hertfordshire County Council, Three Rivers District Council, Watford Borough Council, East Herts District Council, Dacorum Borough Council, Johnston Press Newspaper Group, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Plain English Campaign, and Streetlife social media. The partnership was awarded £66,000 from the  Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG)  to run the pilot.