Sadly we can't expect a sensible answer - the last time I got the statement "the situation is under review" when asking about Stockbridge Lane Car Park, 18 months ago.
At least we tried to get ourselves heard !
More later
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We represent the 400 people who signed a petition with 200 of them pledging yearly payments of an average of £20 per year, together with 19 people willing to serve as voluntary information providers in order that the Tourist Information Centre in Ulverston may to continue in its current location.
We are both angry and frustrated.
It seems extraordinary that, with the present involvement of the SLDC in running the Ulverston Coronation Hall, which requires staff to take the bookings for the many functions held there, the present incorporation of a Tourist Information Centre with the same staff could not be continued at little extra cost.
If the SLDC accept this logic the people of Ulverston wonder why the matter was raised in the first place.
We wonder whether the SLDC subjected us to the trauma of the possible closing of the TIC unnecessarily .
There has been great confusion as to the future of their TIC. The Ulverston Town Council was approached to take on the responsibility of a future TIC and they refused.
They stated that the Ulverston Community Partnership was going to take on this responsibility in preparing a bid to run the TIC and that Cllr James Airey would work with them to make sure that the 19 volunteers of which he was one, could find a place in the running of a future TIC.
Is the SLDC aware of this? Did this happen?
Since the time that Cllr Airey made this statement it has been impossible to determine what the current position is and whether the proposal supported by the 400 people was being put before the council.
Emails sent to Paul Jarvis the Chairman of the Ulverston Community Partnership, and to Cllr James Airey the Town Councillor who raised the matter with the Town Council, have not been replied to when previously many emails were exchanged.
Michael Keane the SLDC officer also did not reply to requests for information.
Even now with the announced reprieve for the Ulverston TIC , the people I represent are fearful for the future of their TIC.
The local people have lost faith in their Town Council, the Ulverston Community Partnership and now even query the involvement their District Council who may in the future take action that they disapprove of.
I believe that the people in Ulverston that I represent want to know:
Are we moving towards a situation were they are in charge of the future of their TIC?
There are people, not only on the Town Council, but in the street that are deeply concerned and want a long term solution which is to have a TIC which is as good as possible. Even better than the one we have now. They believe they know how, and have shown that are willing to work and fund this to be done if necessary.
Will the SLDC work with them to achieve their aim?
If not you will have many hundreds of people in our area that are very angry and will seek action in some form.
Geoffrey B Dellow
Christine A. Atkinson
John Blackmore-Tucker
2 comments:
I don't think I understand you very well geoff. The TIC has been 'saved' and I thought that was what we all wanted? Keeping the tourist information center in the coronation hall is a good result, isn't it?
Yes, but for me mainly no.
I need to explain but basically it's future is still in the hands of the SLDC and is thus very vulnerable to cutbacks haveing been bundled in with the running of the Coro itself. By contrast it could have been in the town's hands , in the Coro, and its future far more secure.
I'm all for taking back responsibility for lots of our services such as - our loos, the running of our market, the TIC, our web site, our car parks and if possible our Hall with its many activities.
I'm fed up with having to grovel to Kendal over things we should be able to decide for ourselves.
Fortunately there are many in the Town that feel the same and some of those are ready to pull their finger out in order to get it happen.
A group of us are doing just that in order to run Stockbridge Lane Car Park ourselves for the benefit of the town's people and businesses - something we can see as a very real possibility.
More later - thanks for asking.
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