I’M impressed that almost 2,000 people responded to the public consultation process over plans for a new community stadium in Wycombe. That’s a high figure for such a process – however there are still countless thousands of people who haven’t engaged which is disappointing but entirely expected.

Apathy rules in Bucks, and this generally works in favour of the politicians who are rarely really accountable for their decisions because too few people bother to vote or pay attention to the issues. So they can do a bad job or a great job – it largely matters not in local government, because electors generally only vote in accordance with national party loyalty.

People gave up their lives for a free vote in the old days, but in 2010, the population is more concerned about what’s on TV. Society is being increasingly dumbed down.

Yes, so while 2,000 responses is a good figure nowadays, it’s also worth reflecting on the fact it’s easier than ever for people to engage. They don’t need pens, paper, envelopes and stamps because everything can be done online.

The lack of feedback always allows the politicians the classic get-out of being able to call any protesters “the vocal minority”. Fair point, until you consider everyone else is acting like mute sheep.

I wonder what it would take for people to respond to consultation. The weather perhaps? Yes, let’s have a questionnaire on whether clocks should go back on Sunday – knowing our daft country, I bet you’d get more responses for that than anything else.