In my opinion the Town Council still hasn't accepted the need for a good web site to tell potential tourists about the town.
This is so sad because several people have offered and even more, designed sites for this precise purpose.
If, when I put 'Ulverston' into Google on January 1st 2011, I can't find one of the top sites that tell me the dates of most of the festivals that will be taking place in 2011, then I shall blow my top with all the gunpowder that I can muster.
At the moment , as far as I'm aware, there isn't a single site in the top ten that has this information on it.
The period after Christmas is the one that people use to plan their holidays. An increasing number use the Internet to help them make their choices. They will be swayed to visit the area if they can find out when our activities occur and better still a good site that tells them about the area.
Councillors Judy Pickthall who is looking into the need for a web site for the town and Colin Williams who is aware of the need for a good web site, and Paul Jarvis, Chairman of the Ulverston Community Partnership who opted for the SLDC site to replace Ulverston.net , please take note!
These three people have been notified of this posting.
I hardly think tourists will be greatly impressed by the long list of coffee mornings being offered by the now top site hosted by SLDC which has been chosen to represent Ulverston by the Town Council and the Ulverston Community Partnership.
I believe that there is some urgency to put this matter straight before Christmas for the reasons stated above.
What do people think?
Am I being unreasonable?
Showing posts with label Ulverston Community Partnership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ulverston Community Partnership. Show all posts
Monday, 13 December 2010
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Tourism concerns
A meeting to enable the Tourism Community in the town to discuss amongst themselves and with Town Councillors has been organised for :
Monday 23rd August at 5:30 pm at The Lantern House - coffee provided
The main topics are:
The results of these discussions will then be presented to the Town Council at their meeting on Monday 6th September when it is hoped these concerns will be discussed by the council.
Monday 23rd August at 5:30 pm at The Lantern House - coffee provided
The main topics are:
- The closure of the Tourism Information Centre in March 2011 and the financing of its replacement
- The importance of a dedicated web site for Ulverston Tourism
The results of these discussions will then be presented to the Town Council at their meeting on Monday 6th September when it is hoped these concerns will be discussed by the council.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Ulverston TIC - An important issue ?
Well, Grange-over-Sands has seen it this way. . . and dealt with it.
The future of their Tourist Information Centre was put under threat over a year ago with a dead line of September 2009. (Our dead line is March 2011.)
Since then their organisation has totally changed.
There has been a strong response from their Town Council and local people to run an effective TIC - and it has happened.
30 volunteers man 14, 3 hour shifts to cover the full 7 day week, 10 am till 4 pm.
They are supported by a paid former information officer from the previous set up; by several Town Council office staff as required who oversee the general wellbeing of the Centre. They take care of the servicing of the web site, the bookings of the Hall and one imagines the provision of sales and leaflets in the office.
Grange, unlike Ulverston, has the strength that it owns its Victoria Hall where the TIC, council offices, Council Chamber and Halls are situated.
The TIC has strong backing from:
the Councillors who authorised an increase in the precept (included in the rates) which helps to support the TIC costs.
the office staff as well as the accounting and web site maintenance roles also support fundraising activities such as a recent Cross Bay Walk in their own free time.
the public supply a reliable group of volunteers.
there's a tremendous community team spirit that is impressive from every level of the operation.
Well done Grange.
A survey of the town early last year found that the town residents were strongly behind the concept of promoting tourism in Grange. A situation that may not be echoed in Ulverston though many are proud to see themselves as The Festival Town of Cumbria.
Our Ulverston Town Council do not appear as involved as their counterparts in Grange. They prefer to hand over the task to the Ulverston Community Partnership (UCP)- this is not to say that the Town Council are opting out and could still be very supportive.
The comparison with Grange indicates that the UCP have a mountain to climb:
1. They will not own the offices in the Coro.
2. Finding 30 volunteers remains to be seen - volunteering may be already stretched with all the charities already operating in the town. Grange may have a higher proportion of retired people with time on their hands.
3. Is the town council willing to increase the precept?
4. The proximity and availability of Town Council office staff could be a problem.
Interesting and important times ahead.
The future of their Tourist Information Centre was put under threat over a year ago with a dead line of September 2009. (Our dead line is March 2011.)
Since then their organisation has totally changed.
There has been a strong response from their Town Council and local people to run an effective TIC - and it has happened.
30 volunteers man 14, 3 hour shifts to cover the full 7 day week, 10 am till 4 pm.
They are supported by a paid former information officer from the previous set up; by several Town Council office staff as required who oversee the general wellbeing of the Centre. They take care of the servicing of the web site, the bookings of the Hall and one imagines the provision of sales and leaflets in the office.
Grange, unlike Ulverston, has the strength that it owns its Victoria Hall where the TIC, council offices, Council Chamber and Halls are situated.
The TIC has strong backing from:
the Councillors who authorised an increase in the precept (included in the rates) which helps to support the TIC costs.
the office staff as well as the accounting and web site maintenance roles also support fundraising activities such as a recent Cross Bay Walk in their own free time.
the public supply a reliable group of volunteers.
there's a tremendous community team spirit that is impressive from every level of the operation.
Well done Grange.
A survey of the town early last year found that the town residents were strongly behind the concept of promoting tourism in Grange. A situation that may not be echoed in Ulverston though many are proud to see themselves as The Festival Town of Cumbria.
Our Ulverston Town Council do not appear as involved as their counterparts in Grange. They prefer to hand over the task to the Ulverston Community Partnership (UCP)- this is not to say that the Town Council are opting out and could still be very supportive.
The comparison with Grange indicates that the UCP have a mountain to climb:
1. They will not own the offices in the Coro.
2. Finding 30 volunteers remains to be seen - volunteering may be already stretched with all the charities already operating in the town. Grange may have a higher proportion of retired people with time on their hands.
3. Is the town council willing to increase the precept?
4. The proximity and availability of Town Council office staff could be a problem.
Interesting and important times ahead.
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