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Last modified: 29 Jul 2020 10:29am

We have launched a new look, upgraded website to make it easier for residents to find information and do business with the Council.

The upgraded site includes much-improved search capability, a fresh, clean design and a new layout that helps guide users to the pages they want.

Lady at computer viewing website

The change marks the first time in many years that the website has been refreshed.

“Our old website had been in the same format for around 10 years – with just a partial redesign about five years ago,” says Business Relationship Manager Stephen Hill. “It was definitely showing its age.

"Although the site was working okay, users were telling us it was often hard to navigate and to find the services they wanted.

"We also knew from research that residents were looking for more functions and information to be available online.

"The new site now gives us a much better platform to make our services more accessible and easier to use.”

The new site layout is more intuitive and in keeping with what users would find on other modern websites, Mr Hill says.

“The home page is now more informative and engaging, with clear links to our most popular pages and services, plus news and events sections, and links to our current consultations and to other council sites.

"We’ve also added a much more powerful search function which will be a major bonus for many users, providing quick access to key pages.”

Another significant improvement on the upgraded site is its mobile responsiveness. "So many people now are accessing online services through multiple devices, and increasingly on mobile devices,” Mr Hill says. “Our old site was not mobile responsive – it was difficult to use on other devices, and while we had a dedicated mobile site it was very limited in the range of services available.

"The new site is now fully responsive, and users should be able to navigate easily, regardless of the device or the screen size they are using.”

Mr Hill says the Council understands that it may take a little time for some users to get used to the new layout. "Our best advice is to use the search function – it’ll get people to where they want to go quickly. But if people do find issues that need attention, they can drop us a line through the contact page. We hope people enjoy using the new site."