Reigate & Banstead Now Online

Over the last two months, Herald staff have been busy with development of a major Web site for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. The site contains almost 200 pages of information about the Borough and its history, local news and events, and Council services.

The Council site was announced by the Borough's new Mayor, Councillor Mrs Mary Waller, at her inauguration on May 15th, underpinning her theme for the year: "Communication and Community".

Councillor Mrs Waller was even more pleased when the first email received about the site was from a fellow Mayor -- Ed Cyganiewicz, Mayor of South Padre Island in Texas. He left a message wishing "Congratulations on your election as Mayor ... I hope you have a great year in office."

Councillor Mrs Waller's reaction: "This was a great surprise and delight. To think that the first person to have left us a message was a fellow Mayor from such a long way away."

"The Internet will help us to break down international barriers and provide information about each other. I think it heralds an exciting future."

Herald's Melanie Dymond Harper commented: "We're pleased to have been able to help Reigate and Banstead extend the information they currently provide to this new form. We're hopeful that the site will expand over the forthcoming months as people tell the Council what they would like to see online."

The Council's web site can be found at http://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/ .