Plan to make Barnoldswick a 'Wi-Fi town' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Plan to make Barnoldswick a 'Wi-Fi town'

1:14pm Sunday 15th March 2009 in Barnoldswick By Jon Livesey, Reporter

AMBITIOUS plans to make Barnoldswick the North of England’s first “Wi-Fi Town” are being explored.

Town councillor Martin Bell, who is spearheading the campaign, believes it will cost between £20,000 and £30,000 to make it a reality.

He has asked the authority for funds to develop a web portal for the town, making it part of a Wi-Fi wireless network, which will aid promotions.

If the scheme is implemented, residents within a 12-mile radius will be able to sit down in a cafe and have access to the town’s web portal via their laptop.

While towns and cities in Chile, Italy, South Africa and the USA have set up Wi-Fi networks, Glastonbury is currently the only UK town to do so.

Coun Bell said the Government is suppor-ting this kind of initiative and that there would be money to provide grant assistance.

He added: “I think it would be great if this small, rural backwater town could be a pioneer in the electronic age.

“This is not just some pie-in-the-sky idea. This is something I really want to push.”

People who use the network for tourism, business or community-related searches there will be links to other websites and the connection will be free.

For personal use and access to non-linked sites there will be a charge.

Coun Allan Buck said the scheme would be a good way for businesses and the town council to promote themselves.

He added: We could be the first in the North. It would encourage businesses and would be an extra support mechanism for them.”

Richard Whiteley, town council chairman, added: “This would put Barnold-swick on the map.”

The council will now establish a working group on the scheme.