11111 The Ilminster Web came into being as a direct result of local residents saying they wanted a means of accessing accurate and up-to-date information about Ilminster and its community. It has been designed to address those issues by providing a range of useful information not only for the residents of Ilminster and the surrounding parishes but hopefully it will also be an informative guide for visitors to the Ilminster area.
Our web site has been divided into the following sections: a home page, community information, community plan, business, local government and tourism. The home page carries a selection of information from local news, the next two events on the calendar and an item about Ilminster or the Community web site itself.
Click on the Community button and you will be presented with a wealth of facts and figures, want to know when the Brownies or the Womens’ Institute meet then click on Community Groups Directory and you will find all you need to know.
Community Safety brings reports from the Local Beat Officer Louise Wright and the latest reports from the Local Action Group for Community Safety. There is also a list of contact numbers for other support organisations, such as the Samaritans and Domestic Abuse.
Under Health there are contact details for the doctors’ surgeries and local hospitals. Over the Christmas holidays we listed which pharmacies were open and when. We hope that in the future the Surgeries themselves may wish to post notices on the site regarding events such as when the ‘flu jabs’ will be done.
Under Local Government you can learn how to contact your MP David Laws; who your County, District and Town Councillors are; when their surgeries take place and where; and how to get in contact with County, District or Town Council Offices. The Parishes surrounding Ilminster also have their own pages on which the Parish Clerks details are posted and, when desired, information about up coming events within the parish.
Move on to the Business section and you will find another directory, information about shopping in Ilminster, conference venues and markets.
We know you know the area, but even so you might, during the holidays, wish to visit the tourism section where details of activities suitable for children are listed plus details on sports venues, arts and crafts, our historic venues and much more.
How do we fund it and how do we hope to keep it going? The Ilminster Forum, the group responsible for setting the web site up received a grant to enable them to start the process but it was always understood that the site would ultimately have to be self-sustaining. To ensure that this happens funding is sought through the directory entries in both the Business and Community Sections. The aim is not to make a profit but to ensure that the hosting of the site can continue.
The Community Groups Directory offers two types of entry, a free listing or a full page for £5.00. The free entry enables groups to state where they meet, give contact details and a brief 50-word description of their organisation and its activities. The full page allows them to expand on their activities and introduce pictures etc. Cost for each type of entry is an annual cost and if during the year the contact details change then any alteration is made free of charge. They will also be given the opportunity to advertise any event on the Events Calendar free of charge.
Community Groups are considered to be non-profit making organisations – operating for the benefit of the community, such as Brownies, WI, and The Royal British Legion.
The Business Directory aims to list all the businesses in the area but it will be a very basic listing. Should a business wish to have more information on the site then they are offered a choice of one of two types of entry, a silver or a gold package.
Silver Package £25 per year
- Include a colour picture of your product or logo on your entry
- Encourage buyers with a maximum 300 words of information about your company
Gold Package £50 per year
- Include 3 colour pictures of your product and logo on your entry
- Encourage buyers with a maximum1000 words of information about your company
- Hyperlink to your own Internet site.
Depending on the type of business, they may appear in more than one listing. Shops will also find themselves appearing on the ‘Shopping Experience’ page. Likewise hotels, pubs and restaurants once they buy into the directory will find their entry in the tourism section enhanced.
There is also an up-to-date events calendar – please email enquiries@ilminsterweb.com to have your event added.
We hope you enjoy surfing our website and look forward to receiving feedback and contributions.