A new texting system which directs users to their nearest parking space, library or youth service through their mobile phone has been launched by Westminster City Council.

Following on from the success of SatLav, the innovative mobile phone technology which has brought relief to thousands of pensioners, partygoers, and mums with children, the council has included more of its most-used services into the scheme - the first in the country.

Using satellite technology, drivers who text CARPARK to 80097 will get a text back within seconds giving them details of their nearest car parks, based on their current location.

The service uses GPS to locate the phone when the message is sent and the return message is accurate to under one mile. The technology directs users to the nearest two of the council's 14 car parks across Westminster.

Families can also text LEISURE, LIBRARY, YOUTH or CHILD to 80097 and receive an instant message back with details of the location and phone number of their nearest leisure centre and swimming pool, local library, youth club or children's centre - based on the exact position of the sender in Westminster.

Cllr Danny Chalkley, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "Thanks to our text services you can find wide range of essential services at the touch of a button whilst on the move, and this technology has been set up so it can be rolled out across London, and even nationally.

"That means people across the UK could use the same text number if their councils signed up. This type of service has incredible potential and it could be for any type of public service, including hospitals, dentists, and GP surgeries."

They can also text HELP to 80097 to receive a list of phone numbers for Westminster City Council's most-used services like the 24-hour environmental action line, which handles noise complaints as well as dealing with dumped waste, cars and graffiti. Other services include OSS, for nearest One Stop Shops, and ESTATE for the nearest council estate office.

In 2007, Westminster Council launched its award winning SatLav service where people can text the word 'toilet' to 80097 to receive information on the location and opening hours of their nearest public toilet in Westminster.

Student Gail Knight, from Clapham, came up with the idea of a texting service for toilets in an innovation competition run by Westminster City Council while she was writing her Masters dissertation called `Public Toilets: a Woman's Place`.

In its first week of operation alone, SatLav received 3,230 requests for information. It's been so successful Westminster City Council has even trademarked the 'SatLav' name.

More than 1.1million people a day visit the West End, which boasts more shops, theatres bars and restaurants than any other part of the country, as well as an array of top tourist attractions.

Westminster's use of the technology is the first time any council has used text messages to share information about its services to such an extent.

The service costs just 25p (plus standard network charge) per text sent to the 80097 number, the return messages are paid for by the council as part of its commitment to providing and promoting quality services.

 

ENDS

 

Notes for editors:

The text services are run by Incentivated, which works with leading brands, the public sector and charities to help them communicate with customers instantly and easily via their mobile phones. Its other clients include British Airways, Carphone Warehouse, Central Office of Information, Macmillan Cancer Support, Masterfoods, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Scottish Power, Transport for London and VisitBritain.

The service works on all mobile phone networks, and the other keyword services to find the nearest service works on every network except 3, which does not subscribe to the technology required.

The SatLav service has been running since November 2007. Its extension to other council services is being trialled for three months before a final decision on whether to make it permanent is made. ends

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