Matlock: Hall Leys Park’s pioneering wi-fi launched

The forward-thinking new initiative will be available to the public from today (Thursday) and anyone with a wi-fi enabled device can log on to the service free of charge.

To start surfing, people must search for the ‘Hall Leys Park’ web connection on their laptop, tablet computer, or mobile phone, and use logon code ‘matlock1’ to access the service.

Each browsing session will last for 30 minutes, but people are permitted to logon as many times as they wish. Signs around the park will provide logon instructions.

Mayor of Matlock, Cllr Peter Wildgoose, expressed his pride that Matlock Town Council were leading the way by offering free wi-fi in the beautiful Hall Leys Park.

He said: “We have worked hard with our partners at Derbyshire Dales District Council and at Peak Support Ltd to develop a sustainable plan which we believe will meet the public demand for online accessibility on the move and make sure everyone in Matlock has the opportunity to get connected this Valentine’s Day.”

Matlock Town Council has introduced the wi-fi in Hall Leys Park as part of a longer term plan for getting the town connected.

The project started in 2010 – with funding from Derbyshire Economic Partnership – when Matlock businesses were offered free routers so they could offer free internet to their customers.

Ten businesses took up the offer at the time and the town council began looking for a sustainable way to provide free wi-fi in Hall Leys Park.

Derbyshire Dales District Council Chairman and Deputy Leader, Cllr Geoff Stevens, said: “The District Council is proud to run and maintain a park recognised by its Green Flag status as one of the best in the whole of the UK, and the addition of a free wi-fi facility further enhances its pulling power both for local people and the many visitors who pour into Hall Leys Park every day of the year.”

For more information contact [email protected].