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MNHQ

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

184 replies

EmmaMumsnet · 17/10/2012 12:07

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.

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MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:05

@BrainSurgeon

Sorry I don't actually see a map, I see a link that says "view map" and when I click on that link, I get a list of locations

No actual map to be seen - just words

That doesn't sound AT ALL right.

Which Local are you looking for?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:09

@dinkystinky

Ok Helen - will get on trying to put in some info about the Queens Park Activities/shops there. However will most likely only annoy the people in Harrow, Stonebridge Park, Northwick Park etc areas who are nowhere near QP....

Thank you!

And don't worry: am sure we can strongarm some people from Harrow, Stonebridge Park, Northwick Park to try and match you!

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:16

@BrainSurgeon

All I'm doing is click on the link in the OP

What is supposed to happen when I do that?

You should go straight to a map.

Listen, if you tell me the local you want (by PM if you prefer) I can give you the direct link.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:31

@NotGeoffVader

Looking good!

For my 'local' area (Chelmsford), I am aware of some events/childrens centres but they're not actually in that area, just close - can I post them up or would be that too distracting?

Of course. Providing it's reasonable that someone living near you could get to them - ie they're not a million miles away.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:33

@BrainSurgeon

I live in a village between Egham and Bagshot / on the border of Surrey with Berkshire... so I guess either of those would be good! Ta Thanks

Try local.mumsnet.com/berkshire (no www)

Or local.mumsnet.com/surrey (no www)

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:33

@Chefette

Hi, could you do a Scotland "Angus" page area? There is no location for "all" the towns inbetween Aberdeen (shire) and Dundee Grin

Try local.mumsnet.com/angus (no www) Smile

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:46

@stealthsquiggle

Um...

If I click on 'local' in the banner, I get the same error message that JaquelineHyde was getting.

If I click on the link in the OP I get a very messed up page with no content, and error messages if I try to click on anything - I can send you a screenshot if it helps.

Yikes! Are you on a phone or a computer?

And if you say which Local you're after, I can give you a direct link.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:52

@stealthsquiggle

Helen - I am on a Windows 7 PC (using IE8) - I haven't tried it on my phone yet.

OK, we'll flag this to Tech. Thank you.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 12:56

@boredandrestless

I am getting no problems at all viewing the pages. Just thought I'd add that as it must be disheartening to only get the problems posted so am trying to balance it out a bit. Grin

(Am using windows vista and google chrome)

Thank you - and hurrah!

And it's OK: it's almost impossible to test something like this enough to cover all the bases and all the ways people view MN, so we're actually vv grateful for the feedback.

But the nice feedback's best of all, obvs!

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 13:12

@stealthsquiggle

I just tried it (through all different routes) on my Android phone and get a whole different set of errors and still no content, so I shall shut up now before Tech sends the boys round...

Yep. We have some glitches if you're accessing on an Android, we're afraid Sad
We hope to fix those soon.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 13:13

@ouryve

Um, County Durham doesn't really have anything to look at. Pops up blank on the map. I can't even get a flasher in the search bar, let alone type in it.

Yes, Northern Ireland isn't working at all right at the moment. Sorry. We're on the case.

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 13:34

Hi, I'm back having spent the night and all morning in techy glitch Groundhog Day and will answer more of your questions and take some notes

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 13:37

@HelenMumsnet

[quote Jux] Blush thank you, garlic. I am very embarrassed.

Olivia (and Tech), I'm terribly sorry. I just had to scroll up a bit and there was Devon, Exeter and Plymouth. All links worked. I went to Devon and then to Exeter, but gave Plymouth a miss as it's getting late.

It looks lovely and works well.

I would quite like to have a link that gives me the opportunity to go to any of those 3 Devon, Exeter or Plymouth, from any page within the local site, iyswim. But I am nitpicking.

Well done you lot!

Gah! Just seen that you'd alread found it. Ignore me!

Will pass on your suggestion re going to other sites, Jux.[/quote]

Hi Jux,
When the My Local Sites feature is working, you'll be able to choose say Devon as your primary sites, but have Exeter and Plymouth in your list of favourites. You'll only be two clicks away from any of the sites in your favourites list.

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 13:49

@HelenMumsnet

[quote ouryve] Um, County Durham doesn't really have anything to look at. Pops up blank on the map. I can't even get a flasher in the search bar, let alone type in it.

Yes, Northern Ireland isn't working at all right at the moment. Sorry. We're on the case.[/quote]

Helen's gone for a lie down. Northern Ireland is working now, and erm, County Durham is being fixed.

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 13:52

@DameMargotFountain

ah, so you're saying that while we can click onto the county, towns will have their own menu-within-area sort of technical

Yes, once sites have got a Local Editor, they will have area labels which will make things much more local. We need people with local expertise to think about the area labels? It's near impossible for one person to do it using a map and no actual local knowledge

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 13:55

@dinkystinky

Hmm, just went to post about a performing arts school and its crashed my computer!

Which browser were you using Dinky?

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 13:59

@dinkystinky

Ok Helen - will get on trying to put in some info about the Queens Park Activities/shops there. However will most likely only annoy the people in Harrow, Stonebridge Park, Northwick Park etc areas who are nowhere near QP....

Once a site has a Local Editor, area labels will be added

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 14:44

@dinkystinky

windows internet explorer Emma

OK, we know there's a problem with Internet Explorer. Tech are onto this.

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 14:45

@DameMargotFountain

have emailed you Emma

Thanks Dame Margot, I'll have a look in a minute.

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 14:47

@EmmaMumsnet

[quote dinkystinky] windows internet explorer Emma

OK, we know there's a problem with Internet Explorer. Tech are onto this.

[/quote]

Tech say this is fixed now. Tell me if you have any more problems.

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 14:48

@EmmaMumsnet

[quote HelenMumsnet] [quote ouryve] Um, County Durham doesn't really have anything to look at. Pops up blank on the map. I can't even get a flasher in the search bar, let alone type in it.

Yes, Northern Ireland isn't working at all right at the moment. Sorry. We're on the case.[/quote]

Helen's gone for a lie down. Northern Ireland is working now, and erm, County Durham is being fixed.

[/quote]

Durham is now working from the map

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 14:49

@kekouan

I can only see London ones.. Confused

Which county/city are you looking for Kekouan? I can give you the direct link?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 18/10/2012 15:11

@EmmaMumsnet

[quote HelenMumsnet] [quote ouryve] Um, County Durham doesn't really have anything to look at. Pops up blank on the map. I can't even get a flasher in the search bar, let alone type in it.

Yes, Northern Ireland isn't working at all right at the moment. Sorry. We're on the case.[/quote]

Helen's gone for a lie down. Northern Ireland is working now, and erm, County Durham is being fixed.

[/quote]

Blush [sits in norty geographical corner]

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 15:23

@kellestar

Creating a listing...area label... trying to list an Sale in Frome as many people come out from BoA, Radstock, MSN etc as it's a 15-20 minute drive away. I know I could list it in Somerset, but would like to increase the amount of publicity for this event in the local area. Does that make sense? I know it can be abused, saw many listings in Bath for southampton/weymouth/cornwall on the old format, but I used to re-position them to the correct area.

Bradford on Avon doesn't appear on that list... would it be classed as Wiltshire?

town.. I've provided one, but it's not appearing in the preview of the listing, just thought this was odd. As I may choose the label Radstock but it might be Writhlington or Haydon.

creating a blurb about the event... there doesn't seem anywhere I can do this, if I choose I want to share this with Mumsnetters but would like Local editor to take over from here. it only submits as a review against my name, but limits the amount you can submit [could it tell you how many characters before submitting?]. Before there was a generous description box that I could use when creating listings.

I see there is a map option in the corner, but could the blank image be filled with the map if there isn't one. :)

I haven't yet posted this listing as I am unsure about posting something with the wrong area label.

I've always liked that I can add some events to Bristol, Somerset or Wiltshire as well as Bath if there have been overlaps of what could be classed as local. I am hoping the my local planner will be useful for keeping a record on MN, but worry that people won't know to look in the other area's to get the event.

Howzat? I keep a google calendar full of events that I share with my phone [geek icon] that's how I keep a note of whats on.

Hi Kellestar
If you list your sale in Somerset and on the Bath site under the Radstock area label, you can go in two sites. The address will say Frome, but as it's a BA postcode, you should be able to list it in both.

Bradford On Avon is in Wiltshire, so you can list it in Wiltshire too if you like.

We couldn't make area labels for every small town, but having them will allow people to search for things nearest them if they need/want to.

Once the My Local Sites feature is working, it'll be much easier to move quickly between your favourite sites.

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 18/10/2012 15:24

@ZombTEE

I also just noticed that the local box on Active convos shows old listings that take you to the map if you click them.

Thanks Tee, have reported this to Tech. At some point, this will be the Latest box from your primary Local site, but there are a twiddles tech needs to make first.

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