1. Why are you launching the site?

Several reasons. First of all, personal interest in creating a website which has a constructive purpose and which is something more than a collection of personal notes, pictures and anecdotes.

A number of other villages have community websites and I felt that providing a site of interest to Great Baddow residents would generate wider interest in a village project.

I await to see the level of interest generated.

2. Can individuals contribute to the site.

Yes and this is strongly encouraged. You may submit articles about the village or other topics of local interest and we will publish providing the content conforms with editorial policy. So please start contributing!

3. You are stating that advertisements are free – is this really true?

Yes, for the immediate future, I am allowing free personal and company advertisements in order to ‘grow’ the site. This makes allowance for the fact that initially content will be limited in scope and quantity! However, if the site grows to the extenct of requiring more extensive hosting arrangements, this policy may be reviewed.

4. The content is a ‘bit thin’ Will there be more?

Yes, if it really becomes a ‘village site’ then I see it as an online journal with news and views of events around the village. So yes, the intention is that it should grow dynamically. The measure of success would be that each week there is more information posted

5. Why does your content include so few images and so much text?

The intention is to provide more narrative detail using a journal style and hence the content will tend to comprise a considerable amount of text. Also, in order to initiate the site, we have concentrated on textual content but will be providing images in time. However it is not the intention at present to provide ‘rich media’ site comprising audio or video clips and hence if you are seeking a more technically advanced site, please look elsewhere?

6. Why does the site concentrate on the area around the Vineyards.

I am aware that Great Baddow extends over a much larger area and includes e.g. Meadgate.

Again, it’s a matter of convenience and time. In order to launch the site, I have concentrated on an area around the ’centre’ of the village which many people accept is around the Vineyards shopping precinct. (If you disagree, by all means let me know!)

However, anyone with a shop or service outside this immediate area but within the Great Baddow boundary is welcome to provide details for later publication once the site is established.

7. Can I become a member of the site?

The former facility to self-register as a memebr has been withdrawn due to abuse. As all information for the public i savailable to all without registration, there is no need to register simply in order to access information.

However, membersship does allow you to have your own set of web pages and if you wish you may create some personal pages of content using html. As the site members' area  provides you with the opportunity to post some personal information, it is strongly recommended that you only provide email addresses for contact purposes and be very cautious about providing personal information to strangers.

Children in particular are advised to inform family and friends that they are registering on the site and I strongly advise against using the site to arrange meetings with individuals who you do not already know.

Finally, please read 'About the site', in particular the editorial policy. We hope you will revisit soon.