Google comes to the village

Feb 4 2010 By Jack Abell, Buckinghamshire Advertiser

WEBSITE Google Street View has ventured into Buckinghamshire, photographing parts of Chalfont St Peter.

Areas of the Chalfont Common side of the village have started to appear on the streepmapping site, which allows viewers to look at snapshots of towns and cities in many parts of the world.

Google sends camera cars out to take pictures of different areas, which then appear on the internet site.

Google Street View (www.google. co.uk/help/maps/streetview) started in 2007 in the UK, predominately featuring major cities such as London and Manchester.

It has gradually progressed to include smaller towns and now villages, despite not always receiving a warm welcome from some people.

Last year, it was reported that villagers at Broughton in Buckinghamshire had formed a human barrier to stop a Google car entering their village because of fears for their privacy.

Simon Jacobs, 42, said: "I was messing around on Google Street View the other day and I found that the Chalfont Common area has now been included.

"This is the first time I have ever noticed this. I think before the area was deemed too rural, but now Google seem to be expanding the areas included in Street View and it looks like now they have come to Chalfont St Peter.

"It is only a small area of the village that has appeared on the site, but it will no doubt soon feature the entire area.

"It will be interesting to see what people's views on this area are as the Google cars become more prominent.

"I personally don't mind it and I think it is relatively harmless, but there will no doubt be a lot of people who are concerned about their privacy and won't want to appear on the internet."

* What do you think about Google Street View coming to your community? Call Jack Abell on 07795 953 387, or email jackabell@rinitysouth.co.uk.