New text alert service launched

Archived press release

Date Published: 18/05/09

Young people can register for information about holiday or term time activities, sports and the arts

Customers can register for a new, free, sms text alert service from Aylesbury Vale District Council.

The service is to be launched on Monday 18 May and provides a range of information about council services, such as changes to normal refuse and recycling collections.

As well as finding out when to put bins out over bank holidays, customers can register for information about AVDC car parks. Drivers can be alerted to a problem affecting their car when parked in an AVDC car park – such as leaving the lights on, or the car unlocked; maintenance or closures of car parks and an option to be reminded when a parking permit is due for renewal.

Younger people can register for information about holiday or term time activities, sports and the arts, while adults can subscribe to receive information about play schemes for their children, sports activities for adults and information about the arts.

Mobile telephone numbers will be kept secure and only be used for the purpose of the text alerts service.

Subscription is easy. Customers simply need to visit: www.aylesbury.gov.uk/textalerts and tick the topics they wish to receive information about. AVDC will do the rest.

To stop the texts, or to un-subscribe from some of the topics, they need to visit www.aylesbury.gov.uk/textstop and un-tick anything they no longer wish to receive. Once someone un-subscribes AVDC will delete their number from its records, or from those subscriptions, they no longer wish to receive.

Those registering for parking alerts need to provide AVDC with their car registration number. For refuse and recycling reminders, they must specify what day their normal refuse collection falls on.

Head of Information Technology, Alan Evans, said: “We hope that this new service will provide our customers with an easy way to receive information, directly to their mobile phone.

“While we are only able to send out texts at the moment, we will be developing the service in the very near future so that customers can text us about issues like fly tipping, abandoned vehicles and problems with car parks, such as ticket machines not working.”

Anyone who does not have a mobile phone can access AVDC’s services by visiting our offices, calling on 01296 585858 or visiting the website at: www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk