What is happening to Hadlow Down and its Web Site?   After being away for the most part of this year I log on to find that nobody has posted anything for four months and the site hasn't been updated for weeks!

Then I notice in some old Parish Council minutes there is a mention that the person who used to do most of the updating is no longer interested!  Then I saw the minutes for the June Parish Council meeting on the notice board in Main Road which contain a reference to the Parish Council considering getting someone to start building an alternative Hadlow Down web site at the ratepayers expense!  What on earth can anyone do with an alternative web site that can't be done on the one we already have - one that doesn't cost us anything?

Although my knowledge of web building is limited I understand that the system this site now uses is capable of being anything that the village wants; it is as easy to use and negotiate as any alternative and capable of being so much more than the shell it now is!

The only reason I can think of that anyone would consider an alternative site is because they're not getting what they want from this one.  The reason they're not getting what they want from this one is probably because they have never told anyone what they want!!  I can never, ever remember seeing any suggestions posted as to what someone would like to see.  Whilst sipping my Campari and soda at Le Flamingo in Antibes Juan les Pins I knew exactly what I would have liked to have seen when logging on to see if anything was happening in my home village.  I would have liked to have seen a Home Page that I could be proud of with pictures of and articles on what Hadlow Down is; lovely hedgerows with all sorts of interesting flora and fauna, the church, the New Inn, Tinkers Park steam rally etc. etc. all the things that Juan les Pins can never provide, but what do I see: un-enticing snippets of old forum postings all whinging about slow broadband service, Hadlow Down soil and traffic control!  It's great to have an outlet where people can moan and debate their grievances but let's keep them in the forum pages - they're easy enough to find!  As for the centre of the home page being taken up by previews of 'Recent Blogs'  It would appear that very few in the village know what a 'blog' is, so again let's have blogs where they should be, without the Home Page previews.

I am guessing that now the person who used to update the site isn't doing it anymore it needs more volunteers (who spend most of the year in England!?!) to come up with ideas and administrative help.

Let's start here - I've said what my ideas and thoughts are what about yours?  Everybody who logs on and looks at the site must have some thoughts on it even if it is things like a page for the school with lots of pictures and things about what the little darlings do there - ARRRRRGH!

Someone could start thinking about contributing regular articles on say ....the Cricket Team  (Oh my heavens what boring ideas may I have started????)

I am sure there are a few comments and ideas that differ from mine - so let's hear 'em!!!!!

Madame L xxx

Gwyn

"but noone actually wants to devote any time"

I am prepared to do it but in recent times for reasons which are not suitable for inclusion in a public post this has not been possible.  That period has now passed (hopefully) and I am quite prepared to take it on and keep the site up to date.  I may need help from time to time with technical issues.  When I asked people before why they didn't use the site more frequently they complained it was too difficult to navigate.  The problem with this statement is the level of computer knowledge available.  An expert cannot understand why some body cannot manage a few simple key strokes to achieve the desired result.  It's because the novice doesn't understand those few simple key strokes.  It's rather like dumping somebody down in the middle of Hadlow Down and telling them to find their way to Framfield.  The signposts don't always go in the right direction.

The new start looks encouraging.  Mark did suggest including a web cam, I think for the wild life in his garden and if other residents have something similar this would craete some interest.
There are many possibilities if we can encourage people to come forward with ideas because as Nick has said content is paramount.

Peter