Trowbridge Town Council is set to launch new website

Councillors welcomed the progress made in promoting the council's work during a meeting of the Events and Community Engagement Committee on July 20.

Cllr Jo Trigg praised the improvements made over the past 18 months, saying the council's marketing had become "increasingly professional and visible".

The committee also confirmed that recruitment will begin for a new full-time Social Media and Digital Marketing Officer, increasing the council's capacity to engage with residents online and promote local events and initiatives.

Alongside the staffing plans, councillors received an update on the development of the council's new website, which is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.

Officers explained that much of the remaining work involves building pages in-house, extending the original timetable. Councillors have already seen the site's initial framework, with a full demonstration planned before it goes live.

Members also discussed ways the website could be used to improve engagement with residents.

Council leader Cllr Mel Jacob suggested exploring artificial intelligence tools that could help tailor communications by identifying the types of information residents are most interested in. She agreed to share further information on potential options with officers.

Cllr Trigg proposed creating a small group of local residents to test the website before its public launch, allowing users to identify any issues and provide feedback on its accessibility and ease of use.

The committee agreed the idea would help ensure the new website is user-friendly and meets the needs of the wider community.

As a result, officers will establish a resident testing group ahead of the website's launch, while Cllr Jacob will provide information on AI-based tools that could support future digital engagement and targeted communications.