ST HELENS Council has become part of the worldwide web this week by launching its own site.

The web site is initially being launched as a vehicle for the council's Inward Investment Office and is aiming to act as a comprehensive guide to the council and its services. The site will then be developed as the Internet becomes more popular and accessible.

The council has been operating a temporary web site containing the official guide to the borough and associated general information for some time. However, the new site will contain a home page with e-mail facilities plus pages dedicated to inward investment and is designed to promote St Helens as a potential premier area for investors. It will also enable companies and other organisations to access information at any time.

Work is also going on to research what will be necessary to extend the web site and include information on a variety of council activities and departments.

Thought is also being given as to how this may eventually link in with a specific borough-wide information service to enable people and companies to do business with the council through a network of local access points.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.