New 'Discover Oakham' Website Launches, But Future Remains Uncertain
New 'Discover Oakham' Website Launches, But Future Remains Uncertain
Oakham has a new digital home! A website, "Discover Oakham," has officially launched with the aim of promoting the town and its businesses. The site, a project initiated by Oakham Town Council, is designed to be a free advertising platform for local traders.
The project, which cost just over £5,000, was funded by the UK Prosperity Fund. Nitesh Bhundia, owner of Rutland Web Designer and a Mill Street business owner, spearheaded the website's creation. He described the site as a "seed which will grow into something great," acknowledging that it is not yet a finished product. The platform's success, however, hinges on the active participation of Oakham's business community, as traders are required to log in and manage their own pages.
Rutland Web Designer has committed to assisting with the site for the first six months, but after this initial period, the responsibility will fall to the town. This is where the project faces its first major hurdle. The Town Council has been actively seeking volunteers from the business community to take on the administrative duties of the site.
At a recent Town Council meeting, a member inquired whether the Oakham Town Partnership would assume ownership of the website. Cllr Christopher Clark, chairman of the Town Partnership, responded with a definitive "no." This response, coupled with the apparent lack of volunteers from the business community, casts a shadow over the website's long-term viability.
Editor's Note: A Project Rushed to the Finish Line?
This new website, a well-intentioned effort to boost the local economy, seems to be facing a number of critical issues. It appears the project was rushed to meet a central government spending deadline of March 31, 2025. Now, with the launch complete, the future of the site is in jeopardy.
The Town Council's temporary administrative assistant, who helped with the launch, has reportedly notified the website builder that their assistance cannot continue. This is due to the Town Council not having approved payment for the work. This raises a significant question about the use of public funds. The Town Council's precept, which comes from local taxpayers, can only be used to benefit residents directly. It cannot be legally used to support local businesses. This is precisely why the Town Partnership was formed, as it can legally use grants and other sources to support the business community. Unfortunately the Town Partnership seems to have lost its direction and is now registered as an Events organiser. The Town partnership runs the monthly farmers market.
This leaves us with a stark reality: if no volunteers are found to administer the site, it will likely fold after 12 months. This would be a terrible waste of public money and a missed opportunity for the town. The most pressing question remains unanswered: with local businesses being able to advertise for free, how did those involved in this project expect to cover the future costs of maintaining and developing the website? The "Discover Oakham" website has potential, but without a clear plan for its future administration and funding, its journey from a promising seed to a great tree seems increasingly uncertain. The Town Council did not tender for this project, Cllr Paul Ainsley is quoted in the local media as saying at a Council meeting there were no other website builders in Rutland who could build the site.
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