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.

@redlac

What's the best way to contact EmmaMumsnet? Could you post a list of local site that need tsarinas and or local editors?

Do please send a mail to [email protected]

Will do Helen :)

The new Local still does not appear to be international :(

I just get: "This feature is coming soon". Everywhere.

Helen, I'm trying to think of somewhere I actually go or do

Um, the beach?

Are local editors Tsarinas then, or is there a hierarchy?

I've been wondering that as well, MmeL.

And I still haven't had a PM or an email today...

I think the title tsarina is obsolete, Local Editors have more power over the local boards, listings and events and then there is local ambassadors which also keep things ticking over, less responsibility but still some input like organising boozenights meetups and being active on local chat.

hopes I've got the right end of the stick. :)

The trouble with using the term "local editors" is that it sounds like a real job with, erm pay. You know, money instead of and

Obviously if they do make it a real job I will be top of the Irish list [hopeful], unfortunately I couldn't do it voluntarily as it would eat into my mumsnetting time real life.

How do you get to it on the App? When I click on 'Topics' and go to MN Local, it just takes me to the local talk boards?

Colchester, btw.

This might have been mentioned, but why do parks need an end date?

Also, all of our local parks and playgrounds are open sunrise to sunset, so can that be an option rather than a time?

Finally, I know the postcode is needed for the mapping, but I doubt I will ever be able to find a postcode for a park! Might it be possible to do something with pinning on an interactive map rather than putting in a postcode?

I'm also not sure why we need a new nick. I guess some people really like to be anonymous! Not being one of those people, I put an 'a' at the end of my usual username.

Which is my next question: which name will be in use on the talk boards? Because everyone I've ever spoken to locally know me as Tee2072, not Tee7072a, not that it's that hard to figure out in my case, but aren't you cutting people off or making them 're-introduce' themselves if we have to have another name for local? Or is that just for listing things?

@HelenMumsnet

[quote MmeLindor] Can I ask about what kind of things are supposed to be on there.

Is it ok to 'advertise' a company, ie to recommend a shop or cafe, and if it is how do we know that the person recommending is not the actual cafe owner?

There are ways and means, I believe

But EmmaMumsnet will know more about this than me. She's not here right now but we'll make sure she sees this.[/quote]

Any shop or cafe can load a listing for their business free of charge, but if they loaded the listing, they can't also write a review.

Tee.. that is indeed my worry... I've been a tsarina [under another name] for quite a while and would be known as my tsarina name... I've entered a new local name very similar, but don't want people to think I'm an imposter and abusing the system with a similar name.

I think the idea is your local identity can be different from your chat identity. Many choose to have their chat identity set to private, but would want a local identity that is more public.

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

Poor, poor Emma ((passes gin))

I meant to say thanks for the gin and sympathy. It wasn't quite the launch we'd planned

@MmeLindor

ok, will add the MN course then. Cool.

Will try and add some other stuff - is it Dundee and surrounding area, so I could list things in Fife - or should that go somewhere else?

Hi MmeLindor,
Thank you, your promises ease a gin-soaked mind. Dundee is a separate site from Fife, which has its own site.

Kelle, that's why my Tsarina name is/was TsarinaTee, because I was already doing stuff, well trying to do stuff, locally before I was a Tsarina and I wanted people to know it was still me.

Really not sure about the new name thing. Maybe the option for a new name, but required?

emma your hard work is very much appreciated!! the IT department from my last job always loathed inviting me for testing, as I usually found something glicky, but it's a good thing to have people test the system. I'm off for some crumpets with marmite and honey and a cup of decaff tea. So you won't hear from me for a bit

@MmeLindor

Perth isn't working, btw. Coming up iwth 500 Servlet Exception

Try local.mumsnet.com/perth-kinross

@MmeLindor

Oh, it is a bit of a palavar, MNHQ - there is a limit to the amount of text. I am by nature a bit of a blether verbose. It is like posting a Twitter review.

There's a bit of a glitch on the word limit. It should allow more? Tech know about this

@HelenMumsnet

[quote BrainSurgeon] I've tried http//:local.mumsnet.com/surrey and berkshire - just get code on a white page

On mobile version or on the desktop version?[/quote]

It's a small thing but I think you've got the colon in the wrong place. Try local.mumsnet.com/surrey

@HelenMumsnet

[quote Pascha] I think this one is about the right size. Also one of these each?

Well that's Emma's. Where's mine?[/quote]

oh no, wasn't I supposed to eat three?

Emma it's beautiful! The tech will work itself out!

MNHQ - is there any chance of doing an international MN Local?

Pretty please?