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3 Dec 07Find It, Report It, Pay It... Do It Online!
It's easy with boroughofpoole.com - that's the message the Council is spreading as it launches the promotion of its recently upgraded website.
A new campaign, aimed at Poole's residents, businesses and visitors, is encouraging people to access council services online using its top-rated website. Eye-catching images of Poole have been used to promote the themes of:
- Find it - from roadworks to planning applications
- Pay for it - from business rates to council tax
- Report it - from graffiti to broken street lights
Postcards, posters, banners, book marks and council vehicles will carry the messages to encourage people to do things online, in the hope that residents and businesses can save time and effort in finding out information or carrying out business with the Council.
Feedback from residents has been extremely positive and with more online applications than ever before, residents have commented that the site is now easier to use, simple to navigate and a pleasure to do business on. Jeff from Poole said: "I think it is really excellent, first class - very clean, very readable, and excellent navigation."
At the touch of a button or click of a mouse, users of the website can now access: a redesigned homepage, featuring clearly defined sections links and stunning new images of Poole and its people; an A-Z and search tool on every page; a 'Your Poole ' facility allowing users to find all the council services in their postcode area.
Visitor numbers to the website have dramatically increased as more people want to access council services online. There were 385,000 unique visitors to boroughofpoole.com in 2005, this year there is expected to be over 900,000.
Toby McConnell, e-Communications Manager, Borough of Poole, said: "The re-launch of our website was a real success and it's important that we now inform people of the benefits it can offer. One of the site's strengths is that it's so easy to use, so I would encourage anyone connected to Poole to get online and have a surf no matter how much experience they have using the internet."
The site has been specially designed to make it more accessible to all sections of the community. Access tools allow information to be viewed in different sizes, colours, without graphics or the use of a mouse. Content can also be translated into nine other languages and the site has recently been speech-enabled, allowing users to listen to the site being read aloud through their computer speakers or headphones.
Cllr Neil Sorton, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Resources Areas, said: "Near to one million unique visitors are expected to view the site this year, however we know that many Poole residents are still unaware of just how much information can be found online. We hope that this campaign will raise awareness amongst residents, businesses and visitors to Poole, of the vast number of transactions that can be done online with the Council and how easy it can be!"
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