A NEW phone “app” makes it easier for local people to access the services of Warrington Borough Council.
Dozens of people visited Get Online events across town to launch the council’s new iPhone application.
The free app is available on the iPhone and Android smartphones.
The new interactive tool reflects the most accessed areas of the council’s website including news, events and jobs. Users will be able to find information about their local councillor and services by entering their postcode.
Demonstrations were held at Warrington Market, the Bus Interchange and Contact Warrington, and at Warrington and Orford libraries.
Residents are increasingly using online methods, payments and systems to interact with the council.
Cllr Hitesh Patel, executive member for personnel and communications, said: “This is a really exciting development for us and is a modern and innovative way for people who lead busy lives to get the information they need, when they need it.
“We live in a fast-paced world these days and the expectation is now for people to find what they are looking for straight away. We hope it will be particularly useful in times of bad weather when parents can get school closure information and motorists can learn of any disruptions to their journey straight away, at the click of a button.”
The new iPhone application is available to download free from the App Store and is compatible with iPhone 3 and 4, iPad and iTouch. Residents with other brands of smart phone can also find a version in the Android market place.
Pictured: Cllr Patel with the app on an iPhone at the Get Online event.
A new link to the council
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
6 Comments
I hope that the council are receiving some monetary reward for plugging these phones.
Do they realise that most people can’t afford I phones and not everyone has pcs or mobiles?
good job they didn’t throw away those iPads they bought…….
How pointless, another one to match their campaigning for more duck ponds in Chapleford – Labour councillors are doing a great job for the town! None of the council staff will benefit, they wont be able to afford the bus fare to work soon after this administration has finished with them, never mind afford an I phone.
I think it’s quite good idea actually and an awful lot pf people (expecially the younger generation) use Apps for everything. By younger I don’t mean kids by the way. I don’t own an iphone but I do have one of those Android ones. I dont use any ‘apps’ though but that is my personal choice. If the Council didn’t do it they would get slated for being ‘behind the times’ and not ‘keeping up’ with other services and businesses who are all going towwards mobile applications… and yet as they have done it they are ‘still being slated’. No win situation for them really I guess. It will be interesting to see how many people actually use the new App and whether it has been a wothwhile exercise an after all as I presume they can monitor the usage etc. Worth a try IMO if it helps people access and use the various council services more. It might even save some jobs 😉
Instead of this dinosaur attitude by some people let’s live in the 21st century and embrace new ways of communicating with people in all forms ,this is a great way for people to access info while on the go in real time
Any measures or technology which result in the council communicating with the electorate in an open and transparent manner are to be welcomed. Everyone does not own or use computers, but most the council’s websites are extremely informative and helpful, as is the texting service (using steam driven mobiles like mine). The more ways we have of being provided with and receiving information the better. All I would ask for however is that the council arranges for all the Parish Councils in the borough to offer the same level of electronic services, some are still using parchment and quill pens, whereas others have minutes of meetings and announcements etc on-line.