South Woodham Ferrers residents are to benefit from a hi-tech £3.2 million scheme to bring a council closer to those it serves.

The innovative project will make full use of modern technology to keep locals in touch with Chelmsford Council.

Among the new initiatives is a special interactive kiosk in South Woodham Ferrers to make accessing services easier and complement the information centre already in place.

The seal of approval means the new scheme, called Contact Chelmsford, will receive £1.9 million as part of a private finance initiative from the Government.

The rest of the money will come from the council and businesses will now be approached to bid for designing and installing the advanced technology needed.

Other improvements planned could include:

New technology to improve how phone calls are dealt with

Better internet facilities

New payment facilities so rent and tax can be paid on time

Improved facilities for visitors to finance reception at the Civic Centre, in particular those with disabilities.

Leader of Chelmsford Borough Council, Phil Harvey, welcomed news of the Government funding and praised the work that had gone in to applying for it.

"Contact Chelmsford will provide our citizens with an even better and more responsive service than we offer at the moment and join up many of the different strands of our services in a way that has never been possible before."

He added: "It will ensure that all members of the community have access to our services, and provide the technology platform essential to a modern, progressive and responsive Borough Council for the 21st Century."

He said it is hoped the project will be up and running by 2001, but the council will now begin to look for a private sector partner to progress the scheme.

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