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Free Internet access 'to boost trade'
7:03pm Friday 9th May 2008
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.
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."
Your Say YourOxford
Eddie, says...
4:31pm Sun 11 May 08
Joleene, Abingdon says...
1:24pm Mon 12 May 08
joleene, Abingdon says...
1:26pm Mon 12 May 08
King, Abingdon says...
2:16pm Mon 12 May 08
anon, abingdon-ish says...
3:51pm Mon 12 May 08
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!
Mhicleiod-O'hOg'ai
n, abingdon says...
8:52pm Mon 12 May 08
Steve King, Abingdon says...
9:14pm Mon 12 May 08
Michael, Abingdon says...
8:02am Tue 13 May 08
Another Michael, Oxford says...
12:26pm Tue 13 May 08
jonny, Drabingdon says...
11:33pm Tue 13 May 08
Another Jonny, Abingdon says...
9:55am Wed 14 May 08
Mike Rotch, Marcham says...
4:40pm Thu 15 May 08
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.
ady, shabingdon says...
11:40pm Fri 16 May 08
jonny, shabby-drabingdon says...
6:17am Sun 18 May 08
s.I wouldnt give a bucket of horses p*ss for this towns future now.I was told about the girl fined for tossing a cigarette butt from her car window.If she'd been a Pikey tw*t nothing would of been done.Im surprised they did'nt check her tyre tread depth at the same time.
sick of it, Crapingdon says...
6:23am Sun 18 May 08
'Peace'.
ady, **** abingdon says...
10:23pm Sun 18 May 08
ady, **** abingdon says...
10:24pm Sun 18 May 08
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Dave Smith, Abingdon says...
11:59am Sun 11 May 08
Wouldn't the council be better off doing something about the spiralling rents and the traffic problems?