Hello everyone,
We’re writing to share some exciting news and a few important updates about the future of Eastleigh Online.
After reviewing everything we do — and in light of the UK’s new Online Safety Act — we’ve decided to retire this Discourse forum at https://discuss.eastleigh.online and focus our efforts on something more sustainable, and better suited to our community’s needs today.
Key Dates
- In 1 month, the forum will become read-only — you’ll still be able to view posts, but not create or reply.
- In 6 months, it will be taken offline entirely.
While forum activity had naturally declined over time, the tipping point was the compliance risk posed by user-to-user messaging features, which under the Online Safety Act require strict controls, safety mechanisms, and liability coverage — all of which are difficult for a small, volunteer-run platform without dedicated funding.
But don’t worry — this isn’t the end. It’s a new beginning. 
Welcome to the new eastleigh.online!
We’ve launched a new site focused on the things people valued most from the forum:
Local events
Community notices & 
Useful links
Independent businesses
It’s fast, clean, mobile-friendly, and built to grow with your input.
A Few Things to Know:
- The new site is evolving and will keep improving with your feedback.
- It’s now operated by Drofmada Ltd, who have taken on responsibility for the Eastleigh Online name and platform.
- We’re offering optional promotion for events and businesses to help cover running costs — but the core site will always remain free and community-first.
- Privacy matters - so no forum user data will be transferred to the new site or to Drofmada Ltd. The new platform is a fresh start, with no imported accounts, posts, or personal details.
What’s next?
We know many people value the idea of community posts, so we’re planning to introduce a post-like feature on the new site, but one that avoids the risks of private messaging and remains safe and manageable for everyone.
How you can help
Got something local to share — an event, business, or announcement? Add it to eastleigh.online — it’s quick, easy, and a great way to stay visible.
The new site already sees just over 1,200 visits per month to the What’s On guide, so it’s a fantastic way to reach local people who are actively looking for what to do.
To support the platform, you can also choose to “Promote” listings to support the site — helping us cover hosting and development while keeping everything running smoothly for the long term.
Be part of it
If you’d like to help shape what comes next.. or just want to be part of what we’re building — please do get in touch. Everyone’s welcome, and we’d love to hear from you.
Thanks again to everyone who contributed to the forum over the years. We’re incredibly grateful — and excited about this new chapter for Eastleigh Online.
Have an awesome weekend!