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Why do so few average families and younger people come to consultation events?

It is not necessarily that they do not want to be involved - it may be that their involvement needs to fit in with their life. They may be at home with the kids, at work or out socialising with friends.

So how could you reach this group of potentially positive respondents?

One option is via an online questionnaire, which they could complete in their own time.

That's a good idea - but how can you get the questionnaire on to their computer?

You could use text messaging. Some housebuilders promote schemes with an advertised text keyword and short telephone number that links a potential buyer to their website via an email "bridge". Consultant Ferrier Pearce Creative Group is working to develop an online, multilingual community questionnaire that can be delivered directly to an interested party's home computer from a mobile phone text enquiry.

Gr8 idea: texting can help developers reach families and young people

How would it work?

People living in the affected area are encouraged to "find out more and have your say" via conventional media and poster promotions that list a short number to text.

Their initial text message is answered within 15 seconds with a request to text, as a reply, their email address. Once this is supplied, a "virtual brochure" is dispatched to the email address given.

The brochure gives basic information about the proposed development and provides a link to the "have your say" questionnaire on a supporting website.

The questionnaire would be designed to capture the respondent's demographic details and pose a series of statements that they would be invited to score from "I agree strongly" to "I disagree strongly". It would also allow them to enter personal comments.

Could this method be hijacked by an anti-development lobby?

There are fears that this could happen. But because the system captures mobile phone numbers and email addresses, a deduplicating exercise should identify multiple questionnaires sent from the same email address.

Who else could be reached?

This method will, of course, only work for people who have access to both mobile phones and home computers. But in theory, it could help reach some sections of the disabled community who may not be able to attend meetings.