FREE Internet access has been introduced to parts of Abingdon in a bid to attract more visitors to its town centre.
Abingdon Town Council is eager to stop people in their tracks as they pass through the area, and is today launching the online scheme to encourage people to stay.
An Internet router, has been installed inside Abingdon Museum, allowing anyone in the area around the Bury Street precinct and towards the River Thames to benefit from free wireless Internet connection.
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Sandra Hill, deputy town clerk, hoped visitors would use the free connection to look up things to do.
She said: "This will allow tourists to come and see what's happening in the area.
"People having a coffee should be able to access our wi-fi hot-spot. Or they can sit in the precinct with their computers.
"I am hoping that soon visitors coming up the river with their laptops will look and see what's happening in Abingdon, and will be kept up to date with what's going on."
Traders in the town have complained they are struggling to survive with spiralling rents and traffic problems.
The town council came to an agreement with IT company CTS, based on Milton Park, to install and maintain the connection free, in exchange for an advert on the homepage.
When people log on to the council's wi-fi connection, the welcome page has listings of what to do and see in the town.
Noureem Cristain, manager of Costa coffee shop, in Bury Street Precinct, said: "That is great news.
"I have had so many customers walk into the shop asking if we have got a wireless connection, but now we will have it free of charge."
CTS office manager Karen Cutting said: "The council is really keen to get people coming into Abingdon and everybody is really happy with the idea.
"If you are in the Market Place with a sandwich and your laptop at lunchtime, then you can connect and log right on."
Posted by: Dave Smith, Abingdon on 11:59am Sun 11 May 08
I hate to point out the obvious but quoting the article 'Traders in the town have complained they are struggling to survive with spiralling rents and traffic problems.'
Wouldn't the council be better off doing something about the spiralling rents and the traffic problems?
I hate to point out the obvious but quoting the article 'Traders in the town have complained they are struggling to survive with spiralling rents and traffic problems.'
Wouldn't the council be better off doing something about the spiralling rents and the traffic problems?
On Saturday I went into Abingdon for the first time in months. It is a dirty, ghost-town, with nothing to offer. Due to a longer than expected queue at the opticians I got back to my car in the multi-storey 3 minutes after my ticket expired to find a fine of £80 waiting for me. How ridiculous - the car park was empty and the attendant had waited at my car so that he didn't miss the opportunity to pounce. I have lived in Abingdon for 20 years, but will [italic]never[/italic] go into the town again. Free internet access won't make up for a dirty, dated precinct full of charity shops and empty units. Try Reading - a great selection of shops, a clean, p*ss-free car park, and a selection of great eateries by the river. Why bother with Abingdon?
On Saturday I went into Abingdon for the first time in months. It is a dirty, ghost-town, with nothing to offer. Due to a longer than expected queue at the opticians I got back to my car in the multi-storey 3 minutes after my ticket expired to find a fine of £80 waiting for me. How ridiculous - the car park was empty and the attendant had waited at my car so that he didn't miss the opportunity to pounce. I have lived in Abingdon for 20 years, but will never go into the town again. Free internet access won't make up for a dirty, dated precinct full of charity shops and empty units. Try Reading - a great selection of shops, a clean, p*ss-free car park, and a selection of great eateries by the river. Why bother with Abingdon?
Posted by: anon, abingdon-ish on 3:51pm Mon 12 May 08
umm....how exactly is free internet supposed to save the town?
what a ridiculous idea!
as King says, the center is just a ghost town, the car park is indeed just a toilet and getting there has gone beyond a joke.
why do councils insiston fobbing people off with these gimics rather than address the real issues?
hang on...just checking the calender...nope, it's not April 1st!
umm....how exactly is free internet supposed to save the town?
what a ridiculous idea!
as King says, the center is just a ghost town, the car park is indeed just a toilet and getting there has gone beyond a joke.
why do councils insiston fobbing people off with these gimics rather than address the real issues?
hang on...just checking the calender...nope, it's not April 1st!
Posted by: Mhicleiod-O'hOg'ai
n, abingdon on 8:52pm Mon 12 May 08
Councillors coming up with a good idea, christ what planet do you come from. Now what about introducing bales of tumbleweed blowing up and down the high street or whatever its called. It could then be advertised as a real ghost town.
Councillors coming up with a good idea, christ what planet do you come from. Now what about introducing bales of tumbleweed blowing up and down the high street or whatever its called. It could then be advertised as a real ghost town.
Posted by: Michael, Abingdon on 8:02am Tue 13 May 08
1. Let's congratulate the Town for doing what it can to redress the worst of the damage done by the County. Its powers are very limited, but it has consistently shown creativity and imagination, unlike to secrecy-cloaked District, which spends vast sums simply trying to avoid its responsibilities. 2. Let's ensure that we continue to press for radical reform of the AbITS traffic scheme -but with some creative thinking, not just constant carping. 3. Let's all ask that the Audit Commission look into the wasting of £4.5million of our money for the sake of "pork barrel" politics. Councillors chose to ignore their experts recommendations and warnings, and put their own personal and prejudicial interests first. Accountability and transparency are the only way to rein in such practices. 4. Let's press for rationalisation of administrative structures in Oxfordshire. we can no longer afford the luxury of three tiers of local 'government' [sic] - one must go (and thereby save us all a great deal of our hard earned cash).
1. Let's congratulate the Town for doing what it can to redress the worst of the damage done by the County. Its powers are very limited, but it has consistently shown creativity and imagination, unlike to secrecy-cloaked District, which spends vast sums simply trying to avoid its responsibilities. 2. Let's ensure that we continue to press for radical reform of the AbITS traffic scheme -but with some creative thinking, not just constant carping. 3. Let's all ask that the Audit Commission look into the wasting of £4.5million of our money for the sake of "pork barrel" politics. Councillors chose to ignore their experts recommendations and warnings, and put their own personal and prejudicial interests first. Accountability and transparency are the only way to rein in such practices. 4. Let's press for rationalisation of administrative structures in Oxfordshire. we can no longer afford the luxury of three tiers of local 'government' - one must go (and thereby save us all a great deal of our hard earned cash).
Posted by: Mike Rotch, Marcham on 4:40pm Thu 15 May 08
Free WiFi.... hhmmm Well it cost the council nowt so no risk. But it's just a gimmick.
We used to go shopping in Abingdon but gave up on the town some time ago. The traffic is horrendous, the new traffic system is a joke. The car parking is inadequate and parking enforcement is ridiculous (many have said about getting penalties for a few minutes over or parked in the wrong place, poorly marked).
No we go shopping in Didcot, the Orchard centre is great.
Free WiFi.... hhmmm Well it cost the council nowt so no risk. But it's just a gimmick.
We used to go shopping in Abingdon but gave up on the town some time ago. The traffic is horrendous, the new traffic system is a joke. The car parking is inadequate and parking enforcement is ridiculous (many have said about getting penalties for a few minutes over or parked in the wrong place, poorly marked).
No we go shopping in Didcot, the Orchard centre is great.
Posted by: ady, shabingdon on 11:40pm Fri 16 May 08
well,wi-fi what a cool idea,now all the do goder for council has to do is sit in town square with web cams on every street corner watching to see if anyone is parked illegaly,or dropping litter,or tossing a fag end out there window like my mate and getting a nice fine from some dickhead for 50 quid.council are a bunch of tossers....
well,wi-fi what a cool idea,now all the do goder for council has to do is sit in town square with web cams on every street corner watching to see if anyone is parked illegaly,or dropping litter,or tossing a fag end out there window like my mate and getting a nice fine from some dickhead for 50 quid.council are a bunch of tossers....
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