Ratepayers in Macclesfield can access council services 'easier than ever', as Cheshire East Council have revamped their website.

Receiving around five million visits a year, the redesigned site, which can be found at this link, has been given a fresh, modern look.

With the overall goal at helping residents, businesses and visitors to easily contact the council to access services and find the information they need.

The previous website design has served visitors well for more than five years, however the ambitions contained within the council's customer experience strategy and draft digital strategy mean the site has been redesigned to ensure it continues to meet the needs and rising expectations of customers.

In April, Cheshire East asked the public what they liked or disliked about the existing website. Following this public consultation, the site has been redesigned.

Improvements to the website include quicker access to all services, simple and clearer navigation, improved site search facility and faster loading times.

There's also improved accessibility standards for people with visual, hearing or readability impairments.

With the majority of people accessing the site from a mobile device, it has been designed with this in mind, meaning it is responsive to whatever device you are using.

There is also a lot less yellow on this website, and the links appear as larger buttons for fingers to click on easier.

Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of the corporate policy committee, said: "I like the look and feel of this improved website.

"We know that our customers, particularly during the pandemic, prefer to access council services online.

"Our website supports our vision of becoming an open, fairer and greener council.

"We want our customers to be able to easily find the information they need, with the latest news and most commonly accessed service information being at their fingertips.

"We also need council services to be accessible for all. By improving the functionality of our website, we can better serve the needs of customers, enabling more people to self-serve. This means our front-line staff are more able to offer support to those customers who are not able to access online services."

The launch of this improved website is a progression on the customer experience and digital services journey – as Cheshire East looks to use the power of digital innovation to redesign the council and the services it provides.

A consultation on the draft digital strategy is now open until Monday January 17. You can view the draft digital strategy and take part in the consultation online.

The improved website is now live at this link. Feedback can be provided at the bottom of the new e-portal.

The cost of the online revamp has not been disclosed.

See also: Survey on the future of Macclesfield Indoor Market.

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