York is to continue its digital journey following an announcement that a number of Community Hubs will receive free WiFi in spring 2015.
The WiFi installation is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), as part of York’s status as one of 22 SuperConnected Cities and is the latest step in City of York Council’s Digital City campaign.
The free WiFi will be available to residents and visitors while they are in public space. The provision will allow events and seminars to take place and will also help residents communicate with relatives and friends digitally.
WiFi will be installed in the following Community Hubs:
- 68 Youth Centre
- Bell Farm Community Centre
- Burton Stone Community Centre
- Castlegate 29
- Clarence Street 30 (Sycamore House)
- Clementhorpe Community Centre
- Clements Hall
- Foxwood Community Centre, Bellhouse Way (due on 25th February)
- Melbourne Centre
- Moor Lane Youth Centre
- Oaken Grove Community Centre
- Priory Street Community Centre
- Sanderson Court Community House , Bramham Road
- Tang Hall Community Centre
- Poppleton Road Memorial Hall
Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: “Our Superconnected Cities programme is installing free public WiFi in more than 1000 buildings across the UK and I’m delighted that some of York’s Community Hubs will be part of this ambitious project. Last year saw a fantastic boost to York’s digital landscape and it’s great to see the transformation continuing. We want to make sure the technology is in place to help York compete in the digital age.”
WiFi will be installed into Community Hubs that are owned by the council. It is hoped the installation will help the hubs provide a one stop shop for council services, a location for community activities and a focus for communities to prioritise and co-design services.
Unfortunately several of the listed Community Centres are under threat of closure following funding cuts by the current Council Labour Leadership. Most expect to be able to carry on at least until May, when it is hoped that more enlightened Councillors will take over the Council’sleadership
The announcement comes after the installation of free CityConnect WiFi in the city centre, as well as on buses across the city in the last year. Installation of the new WiFi in Community Hubs will be completed by spring 2015.