Coo-eeh! Come tell us what you think of the New (hopefully much better) Mumsnet Local

[EmmaMumsnet]

Hello. We've been aware for a while now that MN Local isn't all it could be and we've been beavering away for several months now to make it much, much better.

And today's the Grand Unveiling of the all-new, all-singing, all-dancing (well, OK, not quite singing and dancing just yet) Mumsnet Local

We've reorganised the Local sites a bit (they were a bit random, geographically speaking, before). And, if you go to your nearest Mumsnet Local site, you'll see there's much more to it and it's much easier to find your way about. There are loads more categories for listings and space for reviews, and you'll find nearly new inside an expanded Classifieds section - which should make your Mumsnet Local an altogether more helpful place to hang out. Don't worry, we haven't lost the talk threads from old Local. They'll be reappearing in the new sites very soon.

Some Mumsnet Local sites are still a bit light on listings and info (we're working on that right now) but, if you'd like a look at what we're hoping all Mumsnet Locals will look like pretty darn soon, do have a butcher's at Bath. If you want to share something with other Mumsnetters on any of the sites, just click on Add a Listing (the pink button on the right just under the navigation bar).

Sites that are not far behind include Bedford, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bolton & Bury, Manchester & Trafford, Bournemouth & Poole, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Exeter, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Surrey, and in London? Barnet, Lambeth, Hackney, Haringey, Hillingdon, Islington, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Waltham Forest boroughs.

And we're hoping all the other Local sites, including those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will be hot on their tails. We're looking to entice people to look after these sites, but more on that soon.

We've designed an easy-to-use Meet Ups page. If you want to volunteer to organise a regular meet-up in your area, just email [email protected] . There are more bits and pieces and snazzy new features to come, too. Once --Tech's had a bit of a lie down

We do hope you like what you see. Do let us know what you think - as ever, all feedback is most welcome.

Please don't hate me! I don't think you should have High Street - Keeping Fit - Gyms and Things to Do - sports - leisure centres as most leisure centres have gyms?

Maybe change gyms to private gyms?

Roofers category under household help?

How can you all see this? When I click the link I get 2 sets of headings printed over each other on the left hand side and anything I click on gives me a pop-up that says "This feature is comin soon" and when I close that the screen goes blank with just the word "false" in the top left corner!

What local are you looking for, Vip?

Put local.mumsnet.com/name of local in your browser and you might be able to get there.

Also if you tell HQ what local it is, they can fix it!

@swampster

Still waiting for a bit more than: "This feature is coming soon".

I'm in Lambeth, south London but that is still so general. I'd prefer something a bit more specific - Brixton, Herne Hill... There's a load of the South Bank in Lambeth but it isn't that local to me, it is a proper day out!

Lambeth has a Local Editor, so if you click on Baby & Toddler Groups from the Lambeth Homepage, you'll see each listing has an area label in the top right hand corner. So if, say, you live in Brixton, you can scan down and just look at the Brixton listings. When there are a few more listings on all the sites, you'll be able to filter these listings so all you see are the listings for your immediate area.

@BrianCoxIsEatingBrains

I am making it my mission to add stuff. There is nothing worse than stumbling across something on Google, thinking it is exactly what you were looking for and then realising there is actually no content.

I just want the character limit thing to be sorted - hurry up Tech!!

Thanks Bert,
The character limit is sorted now.

@BrianCoxIsEatingBrains

Oh, I think Tech has sorted the character limit thing

Next question please:

Do I have to delete (or get deleted) my previous reviews and re-review so the full spiel shows? Or can Tech twiddle things so it shows?

TIA.

I asked Tech about this. Unfortunately, your words haven't been saved anywhere. . Because you've shown true pioneering spirit Bert, if you email the title of the review, what category it's in and your full review to [email protected], we'll make sure the full text goes in.

@swampster

Ah - just clicked on 'Primary Schools in Lambeth' and I could happily add those in - but what's the point of that? Surely for accuracy you just suck those in from a directory somewhere?

You're right swampster, don't add school listings, we have a grand plan

@swampster

OK, I really NEED to be able to edit listings I add - I make errors!

And the start date/end date thing is nonsense for ongoing things.

If you preview it first, you can change any errors before you post.

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

I have a question :)

If you live in a city, is it acceptable to put in day trips that are outside city boundaries and in another area. Eg if you were on the Stirling site, could you put in Edinburgh zoo?

Or is tech going to do something really really clever whereby you can search by distance from current location and that will pull in results from other local areas?

It seems to me there is going to be an awful lot of crossover and duplication of areas.

Or or or, if you were adding something, perhaps you could have check boxes whereby you could choose to have that listing appear in other nearby local sites?

Stick to putting stuff within the specific local site for now, but this is something that has crossed our minds. You'll only be two clicks away from your neighbouring (or other favourite sites) once My Local Sites is working , so you'll be able to switch really easily between.

@Viperidae

How can you all see this? When I click the link I get 2 sets of headings printed over each other on the left hand side and anything I click on gives me a pop-up that says "This feature is comin soon" and when I close that the screen goes blank with just the word "false" in the top left corner!

What device and browser are you using Vip?

Using an HP laptop with some sort of Windows Internet Explorer thingy that has Google and stuff on. Can you tell I know a lot about computers?!

@Viperidae

Using an HP laptop with some sort of Windows Internet Explorer thingy that has Google and stuff on. Can you tell I know a lot about computers?!

you need your own personal tech
I've reported this to ours.

Just put up a listing and when I put the town name in "Town" it didn't show up, I had to put it into address line 2.

Is there a way to post on 2-3 sub areas at once?

I am doing my best to get North-Ayrshire going but I can't work out how to 'learn more about how to be a volunteer meet-up co-ordinator' and now my title is listed in the North Ayrshire Latest box on the home page, but just takes you to a 404 not found error page which will be a bit discouraging to people if anyone else actually ever joins me in North-Ayrshire local!

Have also started a chat thread in case all of North-Ayrshire is hiding there

I really like it, shall get adding listings to my local area later. Looking forward to it all being up and running.

Couple of questions

• is it possible to set it so that when you go to the local site it automatically opens the relevant local site, rather than having to go through the map each time?
• are you still looking for someone to volunteer for the Herts site?

Also I have asked for info (PM'd EmmaMumsNet) about what you need to be a local editor - or an ambassador or whatever.. but I do need to be able to edit my posts - I know I can preview, but sometimes I miss things and often I want to add things

Looks good but mine, Sheffield, looks very empty at the moment! Most bits just say coming soon for us. But I do like the new look.

I also had an email re Ambassador a good while back. Not had a recent one - should I have?

i know it's a bit late to say, but i think it's shame that SN support is hidden in the 'meet-ups' section

i only found it by accident, is it too late to have it moved to a more prominent part of the local boards?

EmmaMumsnet (MNHQ) Sun 21-Oct-12 10:30:06
I asked Tech about this. Unfortunately, your words haven't been saved anywhere. . Because you've shown true pioneering spirit Bert, if you email the title of the review, what category it's in and your full review to [email protected], we'll make sure the full text goes in.

Thank you! I have emailed, with full reviews

Preview??? I DO that! I still need to be able to go back and edit my posts!

I'm pretty sure we don't have children's centres in Scotland - is there any chance that category could be removed from Scottish local pages as it will just sit there and and never be used.

There are sure start programmes, some have centres, but most use local community centres church halls etc.

*Surestart in Scotland

The Surestart Programme operates slightly differently in Scotland where the decision was made not to provide services all together in a Childrens Centre. The funding concentrates on building upon existing networks of resource within the local communities. This may involve drop-in centres in towns or outreach projects in more rural areas*

From Netmums, I really don't think there are ANY children's centers in Scotland. I thought the money was all used for n existing projects /integrated into existing projects.