- Bishopthorpe is a rural ward and defined community within York with a population of around 3,750 people. It has a low crime rate and level of deprivation. - The village has several community halls, sports facilities, a day center, shops, pubs, a library, schools, and many community groups. Communication is facilitated by a monthly church magazine, parish council, and village website. - The village website was started with static pages, a forum, and calendar. It is now hosted online and allows for blogs, uploads, email lists, and is funded by donations. It serves as a place for local news, views from community members, and information from the parish council.

1. Bishopthorpe.net
- a short overview
Martin Dudley
Networked Neighbourhoods

4. • Part of City of York rural ward
• A defined community – by geography
and history
• c 3750 population (2001) with outlying
areas, 1450 households
• Over 30% economically inactive

5. • Low deprivation except in streets with
high retirement
• Low crime and disorder
• c 3750 population (2001) with outlying
areas, 1450 households
• Conservative councillor

6. Bishopthorpe Community
• 4 halls, sports areas, day centre
• Good shops and pubs, library, schools
• Many community groups (social capital)
• Monthly church magazine
• Parish Council
• 2000 Pageant
• Millennium Trust

7. Village Ideas Day Engagement
Community
• Community Facilities
Developing a focal point for the village around the Pinfold area
• Environment Improvements
Identify eyesore sites as first step
• Youth into the Community
Accommodate and empower young people in the village
• Better Information
Set up improved web site

8. Bishopthorpe village web site
• Started with static pages, forum and
calendar
• Hosted service plus MT software
• = blogs, page uploads, email, sub-domains
etc.
• c 10 authors
• Clearly stated policies
• Funded personally, by Trust, then Ward
Committee.

10. Multiple Uses
• News and Views
• Pages by people with an interest
• – history, nature, travel
• Ward Councillor
• Parish Council
• Projects.

11. News and views
• Covers local news not covered
elsewhere..
..but on a very variable basis
• Limited reactions from readers
• Controversy can however kick off a
reaction.

13. A councillor’s view
• A good thing to disseminate information
• Little reaction from members but Chief Exec /
officers supportive
• Unclear about benefits. Council site for info...
• Members’ pages empty to avoid political
controversy – therefore local sites to encourage
personal/political/governance stuff
• Site must be easy to use
• Interaction with the site is the key success
indicator.

14. Local government context
Campaigns…

15. Bishopthorpe@Crossroads

16. Rebuilt 'Pinfold'
Sensory Garden
on Library land

17. Local government context
• Telling stories
• Participatory Ward budgeting
• Shaping services – articulation of
priorities
• Dealing with emerging issues.

18. But not...
Campaign to free the Bishopthorpe Five
10:00am Friday 14th September 2007
FAMILIES and friends are planning to demonstrate outside York Crown
Court tomorrow in support of five young people who were locked up for
their part in a night of violence.
They say they are planning to launch a petition as part of their "Free The
Bishopthorpe Five" campaign.
http://www.thepress.co.uk/
The Parish Council page reports an early start to the September 09 meeting to
discuss recent events with local residents and the Police...
“I’ve been expecting some info to come through from the Parish Council about
this, but haven’t yet heard anything...” Site editor

19. Where does a neighbourhood network fit
in?
• New faces attracted by a new process?
• Others might use new process (subject to their expectations,
fatigue, previous success etc.), unless they feel excluded by
the online approach.
• Will people fear online exposure in public, and therefore
avoid/reject it?
• Anonymously contributing however - what would be the point -
as a 'usual suspect' you expect to get results, or at least a
chance for a rant?
• And then the new faces might start creating their own online
cliques.
• ...so people will still have their tried and trusted methods.

20. Martin Dudley
martin.dudley@networkedneighbourhoods.com