Free public internet access in North Yorkshire has 'huge impact'
Statistics show almost 1.5m users are using it across town centres
North Yorkshire County Council says a roll-out of free internet access across town centres has had a huge impact on communities with statistics now showing almost 1.5m users have already hooked up to take advantage of the service.
The authority first introduced free internet access at libraries, allowing users to book time slots at terminals in the branches, with advisers available to offer help for those who needed it.
A second tier has been introduced more recently, offering public access internet in town centres, allowing users with their own devices to connect to the internet for free.
Statistics show the services have been used more than a million times, highlighting the level of demand and the benefits the service has brought.
There are now 20 towns with open-access internet and latest figures show many people take advantage of that, with a daily average in early September running at 3,065 users in Harrogate, 924 in Whitby, 788 in Knaresborough and 647 in Catterick.
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for digital connectivity, Cllr Greg White, said: “We have many rural communities and it has long been a priority for us to ensure everyone has access to the internet if they need it.
“The Covid-19 pandemic put an extra focus on just how important the internet is today and we are delighted with the success we’ve had in opening up the service to the public.
“Our feedback shows both residents and visitors use the service and that is exactly what we hoped for.
“Technology never stands still and we are always looking for new opportunities to improve on what we can offer.”
Visitor John Mitchell found the service useful while on holiday and said: “The service was a completely unexpected surprise and was very welcome during my holiday in Scarborough.
“The mobile data signal for my phone network is particularly poor in Scarborough so I was struggling to share pictures and interact with social media.
“On holiday small things can make a big difference,” he said.
Residents who need help in accessing the Internet are being encouraged to visit their local library during Get Online Week (which runs to Sunday 23rd October).
Throughout the week staff and volunteers will be introducing visitors to e-books, online local history and reference resources. This is a great time for anybody who is new to getting online to book a free session with an IT buddy for some one-to-one support.
Eduroam, an online roaming service for students, staff and researchers, is available on all library computers. It has been rolled out as part of the county council’s introduction of free public Wi-Fi across market towns.
For full details of the events on offer, visit North Yorkshire County Council's website.
Towns with free access are: Boroughbridge, Catterick, Easingwold, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Leyburn, Malton, Northallerton, Pickering, Richmond, Ripon, Scarborough, Selby, Settle, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Skipton, Stokesley, Tadcaster, Thirsk, Whitby.
Free internet access can also be beneficial to people struggling to afford broadband during the cost of living crisis. For more details on other financial support and advice on offer in North Yorkshire, visit the County Council's website.