THE district council has borrowed an idea from the former Labour Government and has added a new e-petitions facility to its website.

Residents will now be able to set up and submit petitions to councillors without leaving their computers - and the authority has promised to respond to all of them.

However it comes amid rumours that the new coalition administration in Whitehall wants to scrap its own version of the scheme after embarrassing petitions hit the headlines while Gordon Brown was prime minister, such as one calling for his resignation which was signed by more than 10,000 people.

The Government website for e-petitions is currently suspended pending the outcome of a review.

Meanwhile the district council hopes that its scheme will provide another way for residents to communicate with the authority.

Leader of the council Di Collins said: “Our new e-petitions facility gives another way for our residents to communicate their concerns about their local area to the district council.

"All petitions will be responded to, although we can’t guarantee we will take the action all petitioners want."

Petitions signed by more than 20 people will be referred to the authority's portfolio holder responsible, while those with more than 1,200 signatures will be able to request that a senior officer speak about the issue raised to a council committee.

Petitions which get the support of over 2,400 people will trigger a debate by the full council.

Petitions with less than 20 signatures will be dealt with by council officers.

Visit www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/petitions for more.