Digital Champion needed for town centre WiFi project

The search is underway for a "Digital Champion" to help advance Newtown's Smart Town initiative.

Newtown Town Council's Services and Strategy Committee last night (Thursday) issued the plea as attempts are made to get the project off the ground.

Newtown Town Council is currently working with Powys County Council to bring the managed WiFi system into the area as part of a five year funded scheme through Shared Prosperity Funding.

The project will also help the town council, businesses, and other organisations to understand how many visitors come to the town and what they do and visit.

It would mean visitors, residents, and others could access the WiFi with their devices while visiting the town centre.

Data will also be collected through the system to enable details about the number of visitors in the town, where they visit and other information. 

However, it cannot identify the individual using the system or what they are looking at.

Equipment for the project has been purchased and now needs to be installed at properties in the town centre.

This will be part of the job of a volunteer working with the town and county council to identify the properties and work with the owners, such as shops, offices, and other buildings.

The town council is working with the Newtown Town Partnership on the project, but attempts to identify a Smart Town Digital Champion have so far failed.

Cllr Chris Jones, who is also a representative on the town partnership, has urged the town council to promote the role.