South Yorks goes interactive

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Councils in South Yorkshire have launched a new interactive TV channel designed to bring e-government services to residents at a highly localised level, enabling the region's interactive TV subscribers to access information, get advice and send messages to the local authority.

The service, e@SYCONNECTS TV, was developed for local people in South Yorkshire by Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield councils, together with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, regional health authorities and voluntary and emergency services.

Among a wide range of applications, e@SYCONNECTS TV allows users to contact Job Centre Plus, request a benefit claim form, find out why their dustbins have not been emptied, request council house repairs, check the location of speed cameras and get advice on local air quality.

The service arises from the South Yorkshire Communities Online Project, launched in 2001 to make public information and services accessible to all. Early research showed that people wanted access to services for unemployment, debt, education, health and social care and crime, which is also available on the web.