A ground-breaking project which uses information technology to link rural communities in Lochaber looks set for expansion.

Lochaber Communications Network Limited (LCNL) began life three years ago as a single resource centre offering IT services including email and internet access and printing and scanning facilities in Kinlochleven. 

Since then, with funding from the Scottish Executive, the service has been rolled out to a further seven centres, each employing a part-time support worker, in Mallaig, Acharacle, Kilchoan, Lochaline, Duror, Invergarry and Fort William. 

Support is also provided to a further 10 satellite centres, making use of PCs which have been made available through other initiatives such as Com.com/holyrood.  These are located in Ardgour, Arisaig, Ballachulish, Eigg, Glenuig, Knoydart, Muck, Rum, Strontian and Treslaig.

Formed by a partnership of Lochaber Enterprise, The Highland Council, Voluntary Action Lochaber, Lochaber Community Care Forum, Lochaber College and community representatives, LCNL enables people in rural communities to gain IT skills and get online for business, community or personal development.

Three years of Scottish Executive funding have now come to an end.  But the good news for everyone who has come to rely on the service is that new investment in the network will not only keep it going until 2005, but make it bigger and better into the bargain. 

More than £380,000 has been committed by Lochaber Enterprise, The Highland Council, Community Fund and the European Regional Development Fund to ensure that LCNL sustains the momentum it has built up and expand the range of services it offers.

The new funding will allow LCNL to build on the IT network already established to increase access to services in rural communities, through the development of each site to provide a one stop shop for information and access to services.  These 'Community Malls' as they're to be called, aim to reduce the need for communities to travel for services and to support providers from all sectors to deliver outreach services.

Maureen Macmillan MSP, who launched the first phase of the network in 1999, helped unveil the first community mall development at the LCNL centre in Lochaline Village Hall on Friday 28 June.

"Community Malls are an example of the joined up thinking and joined up working that is needed as we look at how services can best be delivered to rural communities in the 21st century," she said.

"Community Malls sound like the sort of thing that should have been developed years ago, but yet it is only now that it is coming on stream.  Providing a one-stop shop approach is very important for ordinary people in small communities who need to access a variety of services."

LCNL chairman, Councillor Drew McFarlane Slack, said he was delighted the service had secured funding to continue.

"Rural parts of Scotland stand to benefit even more than the main urban centres from the benefits which IT can deliver.

"The services provide by Lochaber Community Network are greatly appreciated by communities, businesses and individuals across a wide area.

"In the 21st century, access to IT is becoming almost as essential to remote communities as roads and transport, so it's good to know that this significant funding from Lochaber Enterprise, The Highland Council, Community Fund and the ERDF will help this network to grow further."

More information about Lochaber Communications Network Limited is available online at the web portal www.lochabercommunity.org.uk, which offers a wealth of information and allows community groups to build their own websites.