Council’s new website trialled ahead of launch

* The new-look website which the county council is trialling.

Denbighshire County Council is trialling out a new website – and wants to hear the public’s views.

The site has been completely redesigned to meet the requirements of the Equalities Act, which expects all public sector organisations to have accessible websites by September 2020.  

Making a website accessible means that it can be used by people with impaired vision, motor difficulties, learning disabilities, deafness or impaired hearing.

The test version of the website has a very different look and feel from the existing website.  It has a clear and simple design; it should be easier to read in terms of font, colours and contrast and the language should be easy to understand.  It has also been designed so that it can be used on as many digital devices as possible.

Councillor Richard Mainon, Cabinet Lead Member for Corporate Services and Strategic Direction, said: “Our website is one of the key platforms for the council to provide advice and information to the public and is available twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year. 

“The council is focusing on providing more services online and allowing customers to access a wide range of information about council services, as well as registering requests, making payments and getting involved in consultations.  

"We are always looking at ways of improving our online services and this latest change in law has given us a great opportunity to revamp our website, making sure it fully complies with accessibility guidelines.

“Our main focus has been on making the information as easy as possible and for people to navigate our website. We believe we have come up with a fresh look and feel to the website and we sincerely hope that visitors to our website give it the thumbs up. It has been tested internally and by the Disability Accessibility Centre.

“Feedback is really important and we would encourage people to get in touch via the feedback option and share their views.”

The new-look test website is available by visiting: www.denbighshire.gov.uk

This is a test website, therefore some areas of the new site are still being completed.  Please check back to our main website for information and services. 

Subject to feedback and any necessary amendments, the new-look website will go live in September. Further information will be issued nearer the time.