Busbridge is about to embark on a novel experiment in on-line community
networking, allowing anyone living in the area to post messages, air issues,
collaborate with neighbours, offer or seek favours and a host of other
community-strengthening activities. Mike Harrison explains how the thinking
behind Busbridge Community Network has grown out of the work of the Community
Forum.
October marks the second anniversary of
the Community Forum, Busbridge’s first truly independent voice. Operating
through quarterly public meetings and an e-mail list it has established a
dialogue with both Waverley and Surrey Councils and with the local Police. There
have been some successes, most notably in improving street cleaning, litter,
potholes, youth misbehaviour and traffic speeding.
This is thanks to a relatively small squad of
about 130 individuals, of whom up to 40 meet on any one occasion. They have
provided the Forum with credibility with the local bodies that deliver
Busbridge’s services. Now there’s a chance to extend the influence of the
community in a much wider range of matters.
It is also time for the Forum to find itself
a new spokesperson. Two years is quite long enough for any individual to hold
the chair and I intend to step down at the meeting on 8 October. It is only fair
to leave my successor a much lighter administrative load than I have inflicted
on the role – their principal task will be to convene and chair meetings, and
carry the deliberations to the authorities.
It’s clear the Forum needs communications
that are less cumbersome than the e-mail circulation list used at present. There
seems to be a need for a much more flexible on-line network that can be used on
demand by everyone in the area.
The opportunity has come in a generous offer
from a local software company, Bluefire Systems Ltd. They are developing a
messaging system called ‘Phuser’ which allows communications within a strictly
private group. Bluefire want to hone their system and are prepared – in return
for some feedback – to provide free use for up to two years of Phuser's most
basic level, effectively an online notice board.
Busbridge Community Network will be born
sometime in the autumn. It will take over the existing e-mail list from the
Forum and build on it amongst residents who can’t get to public meetings. It
will also take over the web address www.busbridge.net
from the Forum. The new on-line Community Network will allow people to publish
messages for discussion of issues and any forms of community activity that
arise. Think of it as a community ‘blog’ without any technical complication.
This will be an almost unique experiment for
the UK. It stands alongside Waverley’s ‘wireless high street’ experiment in
moving our part of Godalming well into the on-line age.
This is an extended
version of an article published in The Bridge
magazine in August 2008.
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AT A GLANCE
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Busbridge Community Network will be an on-line notice board facility allowing
all Busbridge residents, including those already on the Forum e-mail
list, to communicate en-masse.
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BCN is a collaboration with the local company, Bluefire Systems
Ltd, using basic elements of their Phuser system and will be free to
all users for the
time being.
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It can be used for any legitimate community purpose, for
example: raising issues for discussion with the authorities, setting
arrangements for sports groups, sounding out local opinion, passing
on second-hand goods, starting clubs and common
interest groups, and so on....
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It may not be used for any commercial purpose such as
advertising goods or services nor for political or election campaigning.
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It is open to anyone of 16 or over who can show they live in the
Busbridge area.
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To try this service, click
here
to e-mail the organiser with your name, address, including postcode, and preferred
e-mail address. Your details will not be published or shared with
third parties.
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