6 April 2006

Wealden District Council in East Sussex is the latest authority to sign up for a free community website.

It has joined the online network of community websites known as The Local Channel and is now in the process of encouraging local not-for-profit organisations as well as town and parish councils to get involved.

By joining the online network, Wealden council can now make use of a free and fully functioning website that all local groups and organisations can then be linked to.

The idea behind the scheme is to encourage the growth of online local communities where all groups and individuals can virtually gather to raise issues affecting their local region, such as policing or environmental concerns.

Councillor Raymond Parsons said the council signed up for the scheme after seeing the success of its own site as a means of communicating with local people.

"In a rural district like Wealden, The Local Channel offers local people a voice, providing clubs, groups and societies with vital means to raise issues, keep residents informed and attract new members," he added.

Anyone wishing to take part in the new community scheme has to register themselves on The Local Channel website.

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