Midsomer Norton could soon be going fully mobile with the intention to sign up for a smartphone application (or app) for the town. Currently, the Town Council produce Midsomer Norton Life, a quarterly magazine which is delivered through residents' doors to provide information about the town and the organisations that operate within it. The new Town Council's aim has always been to engage with local residents, but has been finding it very difficult to interact with Midsomer Norton's young people.
The app, which would be suitable for iPhone or Android systems, would be used primarily as a means to communicate with people passing through the town.
The GPS tracking systems on these phones would be alerted when users would be in the locality, sending alerts about events taking place in the town, for example, the Farmers' Market or screenings at the Community Cinema.
The Town Council has been offered this app at a discounted rate by a local company, who are offering it for sale at just under £3,000 for the first year. Whilst Councillors were under the impression the app is ready to go, it is still in its early stages, however, this could mean that it may be able to be tailored to Midsomer Norton's needs. As the Town Council are essentially taking part in an experiment to help the app be developed, it is understood that they will always receive use of such a feature at a discounted rate. It is also thought that Midsomer Norton Town Council would be the first Council of its kind to use a 'live' app that uses GPS to produce these alerts.
The app's main critic was the Town Council's computer and web expert, Cllr John Slade, who warned that often it is best to wait and see how 'cutting edge' technology unfolds. He also argued that once such an application had been developed, it would, in time, be made available at a cheaper rate. He urged the Town Council to consider making fuller use of their website and to spend the next year promoting a Facebook and Twitter account instead.
Cllr Paul Myers, Mayor of Midsomer Norton, said that perhaps the Town Council should be braver in taking a step forward, saying: "Social media and the development of apps does seem to be a very powerful way of communicating. Whilst I acknowledge there may be a long way to go with this particular app, I remember when the internet was first being developed and the first time I had ever seen an email. But for many, these things are now commonplace."
Cllr Michael Evans, also in support of the app, said that if the Town Council signed up for a year, it could be a time in which to "Learn and experiment with social media". Cllr Linda Dunford expressed that, as a parent, she has seen first-hand what a huge part information via smartphones plays in young peoples' lives. She said: "Spending money on the Life magazine to communicate with the town was a brave move and I think, realistically, taking this leap forward will be a very positive step to begin engaging with the young people in the town."
Other concerns included the way in which the Town Council would manage and maintain the resource, with Cllr Slade warning that the information provided needs to be carefully considered. Both Cllrs Sara Box and Linda Dunford put forward the idea that the town's newly-emerging Youth Council could be involved with the new app.
It is thought that 50% of people that own mobile phones now have smartphones, with nearby Frome Town Council (with support from Somerset County Council and the local Chamber of Commerce) launching their own app back in the summer to help promote tourism and encourage shoppers into the town.
Midsomer Norton Town Council carried the recommendation to form a working party and report back with an action plan to address concerns raised about the app by other Councillors.
The motion was carried seven in favour, three against and one abstention. It currently costs the Town Council just under £2,500 per quarter to produce Midsomer Norton Life.
Midsomer Norton are also looking to Wells as an example of how retail can be boosted online without local businesses suffering. 'My High.St', which was set up by a Wells shopkeeper in July 2012, reportedly has hundreds of followers online, which, alongside the Chamber of Commerce and local retailers, provides a virtual high street, bringing all of the retailers together and promoting local trade and the goods that they have to offer.