Date: 11/08/2009
The Borough Council's executive councillor for Regeneration has announced a full review of services provided for visitors and tourists in Glossop and the Glossopdale area.
The old Glossop Tourism Association ceased operations in Glossop town centre in late 2007. Glossop Heritage Centre then took over the delivery of the Tourist Information Service in the town through a contract with the Borough Council.
The initial transfer was assisted by a one-off grant of £14,000 from the Council for fitting out part of the Heritage Centre premises. Running costs have also been supported by a substantial annual service payment of £17,600 from High Peak Borough Council plus a smaller discretionary grant from the borough's Community Grant Scheme of £3,000 each year toward the heritage content of the centre.
Last week it was announced by Glossop's Heritage Centre that they intend to vacate their Bank Street premises, and gave notice to High Peak Borough Council confirming that they could no longer guarantee to deliver the TIC services.
Tony Kemp, the Council's Executive Councillor for Regeneration, has made the following statement setting out his views on the way forward:
"I very much regret the potential demise of the Heritage Centre; I thought they had much interesting material and with help from the Council's staff they have won additional grants that helped them produce an excellent DVD about the town. I hope they can find a way to continue their good work in alternate and more affordable premises. However, I do have to be concerned that after less than two years - and with the council having invested a considerable sum of money in setting up and running the TIC through them - the service is about to cease."
"Fresh into my portfolio in 2007 and with the sudden withdrawal of the previous operator, I felt it was right at the time to accept the offer of continuing a similar service in the Heritage Centre. The tourism and visitor economy has been changing rapidly and information services are now much more web-based. Peoples' expectations are quite different from what they wanted just a few years ago, and most holiday bookings are made on the internet.
"It would be difficult to have an adequate replacement for the existing service up and running before this summer season ends, so I intend to provide a temporary leaflet service - possibly in the Market Hall - for the present time. I have received many comments suggesting we should concentrate more on actually getting visitors into Glossop and the surrounding villages, and less on providing information for those visitors who are coming already. The townships have much to offer and this fact is not sufficiently recognised outside the local area.
He went on to say: "I think the advice I have been offered so far has been wise and over the next few months I intend to consult widely with interested parties in the Glossop locality. Only when this has been done will I present proposals on the best way to promote Glossopdale in the future. I do, however, want to make it absolutely clear that this will not be a cost-cutting exercise - I intend that the existing budget will be maintained but we may look to spend the money in different, and I hope more beneficial ways."