Web codes enable Arundel residents to scan planning applications while they're on the move

Imagine pointing your mobile phone at a bar code and being taken direct to a website where you can instantly read the information you need.

That's what Arun District Council has started offering residents who want to follow up planning site notices by using QR Codes.

QR (short for Quick Response) codes are two-dimensional barcodes which enable anyone with most types of smartphone equipped with a barcode reading app to get online and directly check out the details of a planning application.

The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern. The information encoded may be text, a URL, or other data. It was first used to track parts in vehicle manufacturing but has since been adapted for many other functions and environments.

If you have a barcode scanning app on your smart phone, you can point the camera lens of your phone at the code, take a photo, and you can be linked straight to the web page that contains the information you need.

The codes, which are free, have been added to the right hand corner of all Arun's site noties.

Officers place up to 40 around the district every single week informing people about the proposed planning appliactons in their area, inviting comments and representations. When scanned, the codes take peope straight through to Arun's planning website where they can access the full planning application.

Councillor Ricky Bower, Arun District Council's Cabinet Member for Planning said: "We are always looking for ways to improve services and make it easier for our customers to access planning documents. The QR system is just one way of providing information in a digital format to council customers. Technology is opening up new platforms for communicating and engaging residents, businesses and visitors and we are extremely keen to exploit that where we can. "