What people are saying about our web site
Good Communications Awards
Local Authority Website of the Year 2007
Awarded to the local authority website that "has made outstanding progress in delivering legible and accessible information and online services to its citizens".
See www.salford.gov.uk/accolades for more information.
You too can have your say about the website by completing an online feedback form. Your comments may even get published here:
"Excellent website, easy to navigate and very well set out." (B Regan, Salford resident)
My husband and I were in England for the first time on vacation for two weeks. While in Bath we took a mini bus tour of the Cotswolds. One of the stops on the tour was Tetbury. We had an hour to walk through the village and while there we stopped at a bakery for tea and a pastry. The Eccles cake caught my eye because it was new to me so we shared one. It was very good and I liked it so much I tried to find them again in other bakeries in other towns including London but without success. Today I decided to search online for a recipe to see if I could duplicate the cake. I also had a feeling that the cake had a history (as so many things do in England) so I wanted to search for that information as well. How delighted I am to have found both on your website, in one place and so easily! Thank you for making my search so easy and so entertaining. We will have to visit Salford on our next trip to England." (Elaina Kassouf, Portland OR, USA)
"It was good to see a local authority website that is up to date, easy to navigate and presents information in a clear, logical and easy to read form making good (but not excessive) use of local imagery. The search facilities worked well and the default to the sitemap presented a clear and easy to follow classification listing. What really impressed me most however was that the site conveyed an impression of a forward looking, progressive community that is proud of, and prepared to promote, its heritage whilst embracing opportunities for improvement and growth in an enthusiastic manner. I know that a huge amount of work goes in to building and maintaining a website of this type and I would like to congratulate you on achieving such a high quality outcome." (Derek Rocholl, Post Office, London)
"What an excellent April Fool jape! You put some thought into it which made it almost plausible at first glance. Well done!" (anonymous, Salford)
"I really like the 'Local Government Matters' pages - putting services into context, and explaining what local government does. Also having panic buttons on the domestic violence page is an excellent idea!" (hannah.yates@salford.gov.uk)
"Very impressed with your 'Comic Relief' red nose day changes to the website. Fantastic that you visually support the cause." (anonymous, Bolton)
What I learned on your website has turned a dreary Sunday (it is raining here in Florida!) into, at least in my mind, a sunny Sunday. I am in your debt." (gdprice@---.com, Melrose FL, USA)
"A really great site. Lots of contemporary news mixed with very interesting local history. The site is easy to navigate, user friendly and lots of fun. I haven't lived in Salford very long and much of the information is very useful. A professional job. Well done Salford." (brett.mitchell93@---.com, Salford resident)
"The garish magenta colour which is liberally used throughout the site detracts from an otherwise good website." (anonymous)
"I've just come across your GhostCam! I was delighted to see it, especially on a council website." (Chris Franklin, Webmaster, Kennet District Council)
"Nice to see local government in the 21st Century." (dwarbu@---.com, Salford business user)
"Can I say that I was very impressed with the layout of your website: I found it to be extremely user-friendly. Within seconds I was able to find the relevant section and the documentation I required." (kgrainger@---.gov.uk, Birmingham)
"I found this website quite informative. Before viewing your site, I was unfamiliar with Salford. I discovered that there is so much going on! The website is very thorough in that it covers so many different activities and cultural affairs. I am pleased with the quantity and the quality of information provided." (anne_landon@---.com, Ann Arbor MI, USA)
"What an easy to use, clearly formatted and informative site! The new site is not only easy to use but does not leave you with a banging head after spending any time looking at it! I am currently looking for a new job, being unemployed at present and the site has been most helpful. Well Done!" (pumalad@---.com, Salford resident)
"Thank you for your helpful reply to my request about Helping Hands. I am given to understand that [this] website is one of the better local authority ones, so it is reassuring to know that comments and requests will be acted upon!" (julian.smith@---.net - Manchester resident)
"Congratulations on your website, it's a pleasure to browse through! The site is well designed, has a good navigation system and provides easy access to information and services. Definitely one of the best local government websites I have seen!" (Matthew Murray, Webmaster, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council)
"I have visited many sites in my time and of all the local authorities, Salford must be the worse look ever, pink?? Mmmm very Barbie, it's definitely not user friendly ... Well that's my view, no doubt you will get more soon. It's a shame really because Salford does offer good services just the website that lets it down." (philip@---.com, no location provided)
"Very slick and well put together website. As an IT professional I appreciate such things, well done! Clear, easy to navigate, no timewasting graphics. Nice job. I was actually coming on the site to find some help for my wife's parents, and dreaded the thought of having to trawl around a government-style site on a Sunday evening. Went to Yahoo typed "salford social services", clicked on the top link and there was all the info I needed. I then had a click around just to see the rest of it I was so impressed with the ease and clarity of the presentation. We are a consultancy that helps companies with their IT, and regularly find a part of that is face lifting a poor website. I myself do not do this, but appreciate the effort that goes into making a site "simple" but useful." (erict@---.com, Crewe)
"I've been looking at lots of websites for inspiration as we are currently redesigning our own. Just a quick note to say that I am very impressed with the Salford site in general - and particularly the Blue Badge info you provide which is excellent. Congratulations!" (Debbie Anchor, Website Co-ordinator, Conwy County Borough Council)
"After a year or two of not visiting your website I have gone through my favourite list to locate a department of yours for waste disposal. To my horror I find the layout and methodology for locating items has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Functionality has been abandoned for the sake of aethetics [sic] making the whole process a complete fiasco. No phone numbers can be located any where and thus the only items to be found are explanations of what departments do and other interesting but useless info. This has obviously been left in the hands of academics who have over elaborated on information that is useless in the real world. Please reconsider a finer balance of functionality versus information which was one of the reasons why your website did used to make a good impression in the past. I will try again to find out how one may dispose of fridges." (simeonkwardle@--.com, Salford resident)
"I think that this website is clear and easy to use. I particularly like the relevance percentages shown when a search has been entered. It helped me to see quickly which link I needed to go to. Keep up the good work!" (kurtcobain4eva@---.com)
Our website is updated every day and we will always respond to requests from users to provide specific information about council services or aspects of life in Salford.
Please read our disclaimer and privacy statements (follow the links at the foot of any page on the site) for guidance on how we use personal data you may provide via online forms.
"A very, very good website with some great innovations."
"Better Connected 2007" survey of local authority websites
more information
The Society of IT Management
March 2007
This page was last updated on 15 June 2007
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