1:08pm Tuesday 2nd February 2010
AN innovative high-tech scheme is bringing people in remote communities face-to-face with their public services.
The ground-breaking project exploits the latest technological advances and is being piloted in Upper Wensleydale. If it proves successful it could be rolled out elsewhere.
It is giving people in Hawes and surrounding communities an audio, video, and data link to a variety of destinations, including a number of villages in Upper Swaledale.
Known as "Telly Talk" the system is based at the library and community office in Hawes and uses a camera, computer and broadband link to allow people to contact a range of services.
They can get information about bus passes and housing repairs from Richmondshire District Council or advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau.
They can make timetable requests for the community transport provided by Little Red Bus and even - for residents of Upper Swaledale - have consultations by appointment with the doctors’ surgery in Reeth.
The specially-designed computers and cameras allow people to speak face-to-face to a representative of the organisation concerned and can even pass copies of forms and take signatures.
Set up by the Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership with the aid of grants, the scheme is free to use and has been helped by extra funding from North Yorkshire County Council.
The county’s executive member responsible for access to services, Heather Garnett, welcomed the initiative.
"This is an innovative solution to the problems faced by people in rural areas in accessing services. It will be interesting to see the results of this pilot scheme," she said.
The chairman of the partnership, Upper Dales county councillor John Blackie, added: "Remoteness is the main barrier in deeply rural areas like the Upper Dales, coupled with the cost of petrol and the time needed to access essential services in the far distant towns.
"Telly Talk offers confidential two-way face to face contact, exchange of important documents, consultation and advice, with key organisations without having to make these long trips up and down the Dale.
"We will try very hard to make this pilot a rip-roaring success."
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