Kirkby Lonsdale is a historic market town on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District. Previously, three websites were used to promote and provide information about the town. Kirkby Lonsdale’s new website brings significant benefits by consolidating the three separate sites managed by the Chamber of Trade, Town Council, and Community Interest Company into a single, unified platform. This approach improves the promotion of the town and enhances online visibility by consolidating content into one authoritative site, benefiting search engine optimization (SEO). It also reduces costs by eliminating the need to host and maintain multiple websites while ensuring consistent and reliable information for users without duplication.
Developed by Designworks in collaboration with the Chamber of Trade, Town Council, and Community Interest Company; the WordPress-based website is designed to serve the local community, businesses and visitors. It features integrated advertising options with an application form, a business directory offering both basic and enhanced listings, and a dedicated membership area where businesses can register, manage accounts, and make online payments. A live Facebook feed is also included to provide timely updates to the community.
The site adheres to WCAG 2.1AA accessibility standards, ensuring usability for all users, including individuals with disabilities, and incorporates an accessibility plugin to enhance functionality further.
This collaborative project between Designworks, the Chamber of Trade, Town Council, and Community Interest Company successfully reflects Kirkby Lonsdale’s unique identity while creating a streamlined and functional platform that benefits residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
