CPRE Herefordshire Annual Report October 2012

Our new branch website
FACTS
cpreherefordshire.org.uk
In 2011’s Annual Report we reported that we
were working to revise the branch website, with
the aim of the new site being up and running
for the 2011 AGM. We quickly realised on
discussion with our website host & designers
that a complete redesign was needed in order
for the new site to fulfil our requirements.
However, none of us foresaw the amount of
work involved in this task and, as the AGM
approached, we realised that a postponement
was sensible. It was more important to get it
right rather than rush to complete the project.
This gave us sufficient time to put in the hard
work required firstly on the design of and then
to create content for the redesigned site, which
was no mean feat – it wasn’t simply a case of
copying text from one site to another.
Careful consideration has been given to the site
layout, from simplifying and unifying
navigation to the overall visual design. We were
keen to ensure that we are recognisable as
CPRE, following certain guidelines issued by
CPRE National Office. At the same time, we
wanted the colours used to be a palette
recognisably that of Herefordshire, for example
the rich brown of the county’s soil used for the
navigation bar.
V8 Media have worked with us patiently and we
are very pleased with the redesigned site,
which went live in March 2012. Our new
homepage has quick links to those pages
identified as featuring most frequently in
searches that lead viewers to the site. Overall,
the new design has grouped pages together for
easier navigation, e.g.. the Issues page, found
in the centre of the navigation bar at the top of
each page gives a synopsis of areas of concern.
A further left hand navigation pane shows the
individual issues.
There are other changes and new features too:
no more Members area. On checking the
statistics for the old site, we found that this
area was rarely used and so decided that we
would not retain it. In the interests of
transparency, information such as minutes of
meetings is now available for all to see,
We have improved accessibility to the site, for
example at the top right of the screen – A +
can be seen, which makes text larger or smaller
to suit the viewer. Other information on
accessibility can be found via a link at the
bottom of each webpage.
The Contact Us page has changed in design
but the core remains the same, simply fill in
the form to contact us with a query or
suggestion.
Some pages, such as Local Food, are still in
development but we hope that the site now
easily tells the casual visitor who we are and
what we do.
A Forum area is soon to be added, where
members can share information and
experiences and engage with other users.
Whilst the new site went live in March, we have
withheld the Forum until we familiarise
ourselves with the new site’s operating system.
We have volunteer moderators in place, each of
whom will have been trained by the time this
report comes off the press, or shortly after.
Once the forum is launched at the 2012 AGM,
our next aim will be to follow up on a link to
one or more of the social media sites.
As with all things HCPRE does, this redesign
would not have been possible without
volunteers giving their time, whether providing
input on design, writing text for new pages, or
occasionally as editors supporting our
Administrator, who oversaw the project and
wrote some of the text herself.
We would welcome more volunteers to help
with the website, a commitment which would
not be very onerous – perhaps half an hour per
week. The Branch has a small dedicated group
of volunteers, each of whom has two of more
‘hats’. Having dedicated website volunteers
would allow current volunteers to concentrate
their efforts on our core work of planning
vigilance.
Please do consider if you could help us,
email admin@cpreherefordshire.org.uk
for more information.
• CPRE Herefordshire’s work is carried out
by volunteers
• We were founded in 1931
• We are a registered charity
• A team of volunteers across the county
act as planning ‘watchdogs’ monitoring
applications and making submissions on
issues concerning protection of the
landscape
• We are part of a national network of CPRE
county and local groups
• We are supported by national CPRE,
whose patron is HM The Queen
• Nationally, CPRE is one of the longest
established and most respected
environmental groups, influencing policy
and raising awareness since it was
founded in 1926
• CPRE Herefordshire has over 400
members across the county
• We are supported by voluntary donations
and membership subscriptions.
OPEN INVITATION
ATTEND OUR
MEETINGS
All CPRE members are
welcome to attend our
monthly CPRE committee
and policy meetings.
Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of
each month (except August): see our website for
venue details.
Meetings begin at 1.30pm and are always a
vehicle for lively and informed debate on
matters both local and national.
If you are unable to attend our meetings,
you can keep up to date on all matters
arising by visiting our branch website at
www.cpreherefordshire.org.uk
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