A successful resolution?
I guess I have a somewaht different perspective to the official line - "Thank you Kendal - grovel, grovel, - thank you, thank you, Graham Vincent for rescuing us"
It was a great insight to spend four market days talking to the people at the Market Square resulting in more than 400 signing a petition, 200 pledging money - with a few actually saying "as much as it takes" and with 18 volunteers committing themselves (James Airey to his credit added his name later).
The TIC really mattered to them.
I believe it matters to most of us.
We have lots of other issues that really matter to us. In order of stength of feeling I would place:
1. Control over the car parking policy, especially over land that Ulverston people own or have been bequeathed - The Gill and Stockbridge Lane respectively.
2. The running of our toilets
3. The running of our markets
4. The running of our Town Hall - which we do not own
5. The running of our Coronation Hall - which we do not own.
6. The maintenance of our streets.
7. The enforcement of Dog Fouling legislation
8. The enforcement of Car Parking legislation
True the order above may be at fault. - Speak up with your pet concern
The crunch line in all these is that -
We have no control over the above and we resent theis - Kendal in the form of local government does.
There are many towns where they do not have the same situation:
Grange has control over its TIC, its Town Hall and equivalent of the Coro.
Settle has control over its Market - something it fought hard for.
Now, as Grange are at present battling over - with this control comes responsibility.
Control requires management, enforcement, policy and maintenance. It's hard work.
It also requires financial commitment - Grange raises money through local rates to run their responsibilities - which can be seen as unfair - they pay twice - to the SLDC for other town's TIC and in addition for their own TIC.x
However what it has is pride.
If you visit the Grange Council Management there is a completely different atmosphere to that at Ulverston - there is no us and them - being kept at a distance, I find here - keep your nose out - we know what is best for you - that you've read about here, at the Town Hall.
At Grange there's a real buzz of involvement. Their secretaries have time for you, the, in addition to the work commitments, organise fund raising activities like the recent Bay Walk. Their councillor, Tom Harvey, speaks up forcibly for Grange instead of the wimp behavior from our councillors - Janet Wilkinson, Colin Hodgson and James Airey - that I witnessed at the recent Cabinet Meeting that made me furious and led to the 'Wimps with no Balls' comment over their handling of the Stockbrige Carpark issue - which I still stand by - made by me recently here.
My point is:
We need to claw back control of the things that we consider important to the town.
This requires hardship - both financial and commitment of time - but from my contact on the Market Square - this what many (most?) Ulverstonians want.
Ulverstonians want their sense of pride back.
They want things like their Town Bank Clock fixed quickly when it appears a simple matter of a severed cable.
Councillors for the most part are out of touch with this sense of determination.
I get the dismaying response from Jenkinson and Bishop-Rowe and others that "Kendal would never allow that" and "I've tried and it can't be done". What a defeatist attitude.
Then to top it all there's this "leave it to us- we know best - if we can't do it - you certainly can't" which I've proved wrong several times.
So TIC : missed opportunity in my view - we were heavily let down by the grand talking Paul Jarvis of Ulverston Community Partnership when in my view he had a viable commitment for Ulverston to take over the TIC and he avoided it. Neither did James Airey persuade him to change his attitude.
With an attitude like this, in the long term, we are sunk.
We will end up, as a thriving business man in the town predicts - a ghost town - a pale reflection of the leading Town in our area a century ago when the iron industry thrived under the Kennedys only a century ago.
With control over our TIC a sense of the community fighting together to make this the best TIC in Cumbria, could have resulted and with it could have come control over a tourist web site that is so essential.
What may happen next is that the TIC is vastly trimmed down in manpower to fit the needs of the Coro Hall itself (under the mismanagement of a notoriously badly managed district council - in the bottom 15% in the country - who find it costs some £300 per week to maintain a toilet) so that it no longer operates effectively.
The next step in my thinking that would be a big one but thoroughly within the town's capability is the take over of the whole Coronation Hall operation.
We've enough enthusiasm for the activities here from a very wide area to help this do well in spite of cutbacks.
It would then be our Coro run for the benefit of our societies and performers and the people who risk putting on shows. We have the potential of a really successful operation here.
Why leave it in the hands of Kendal and the SLDC to be messed around with.
Fighters - please step forward.
Are you one?
Showing posts with label tourist Information centre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tourist Information centre. Show all posts
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Something that was said earlier
On the Evening Mail web site:
Isn't the root cause of the cost of the toilets, the Tourist Information Centres and to include a really sore issue, the cost of our carparks all down to maladministration by SLDC.
The high paid executives are not doing their job of ensuring efficient operation. Instead of sorting the working practices of their officers and subcontractors out the councillors choose to run away from the problem and make cuts that would not be needed if the council were running like an efficient business.
But stop and consider this. Who employ these council workers and set policy that no businesses would tolerate? We do, through our councillors. So why aren't councillors right across the area trying to straighten this local council's workers out.
The same is true regarding the County Council and the Highways Department the officers take control and the councillors put up with it, they act powerless. Some issues need to be followed and checked through in great detail.
Isn't an important part of the problem that councillors are only too happy to have a poke at a problem and then give up?
Don't we need our councillors to show more leadership in exploring the business practices that lead to our problems. Now is a time for some fiery councillors to make sure that the system runs well.
If they need us to support them in any way they should tell us. How about a march through Kendal or something else dramatic.
Alternatively some well put together videos on Youtube that show up current practices (works for me a treat!).Can't they come up with something that will get the message across?
I'd suggest we need councillors right across the District who take their jobs seriously as though they were running a business. Not just making decisions but making sure they were being carried out. Too much time spent in the Council Chamber and not enough breathing down officers necks.
Does this make sense?
Isn't the root cause of the cost of the toilets, the Tourist Information Centres and to include a really sore issue, the cost of our carparks all down to maladministration by SLDC.
The high paid executives are not doing their job of ensuring efficient operation. Instead of sorting the working practices of their officers and subcontractors out the councillors choose to run away from the problem and make cuts that would not be needed if the council were running like an efficient business.
But stop and consider this. Who employ these council workers and set policy that no businesses would tolerate? We do, through our councillors. So why aren't councillors right across the area trying to straighten this local council's workers out.
The same is true regarding the County Council and the Highways Department the officers take control and the councillors put up with it, they act powerless. Some issues need to be followed and checked through in great detail.
Isn't an important part of the problem that councillors are only too happy to have a poke at a problem and then give up?
Don't we need our councillors to show more leadership in exploring the business practices that lead to our problems. Now is a time for some fiery councillors to make sure that the system runs well.
If they need us to support them in any way they should tell us. How about a march through Kendal or something else dramatic.
Alternatively some well put together videos on Youtube that show up current practices (works for me a treat!).Can't they come up with something that will get the message across?
I'd suggest we need councillors right across the District who take their jobs seriously as though they were running a business. Not just making decisions but making sure they were being carried out. Too much time spent in the Council Chamber and not enough breathing down officers necks.
Does this make sense?
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
The Council want you to know
The Ulverston Town Council are enthusiastic in their support for a Tourist Information Centre in Ulverston.
They are supporting the bid of the Ulverston Coumunity Partnership (UCP) which their chairman Paul Jarvis stated to the council is designed to fail.
Despite the support from the community expressed in the 410 signature petition where 18 people have volunteered to work alongside staff from the existing TIC in order to ensure costs are low:
The council support the UCP who are saying "In the event that there were no other viable bids we offering a bid."
This means that it is not designed to be viable and takes no account of the views of the public that have expressed their concerns and willingness to be involved in a promising solution.
The public left the meeting stunned by the unwillingness of the council to engage with this issue other than in the rhetoric of meaningless words.
Cllr James Airey tried to guide the along discussion along by stating that he was adding his name to the list of volunteers and urged the counciol to take some action. Support for the UCP was all that they could manage.
With leadership like this we need to reconcile ourselves with the reality that Ulverston is heading for even more shop closures, the disappearance of our market and a town that has no aspirations for the future.
In fact clear thinking businessmen in the town believe we will become a ghost town unless the public start to assert themselves with strong leadership that begins to solve the towns problems; the prime one being our high charging car parks.
An example of the inadequacy of the council was the acceptance of two new bus shelters at the Health Centre and in the County Square with money coming from the County Council (our money). Yet the councillors weren't sure these were needed while the bus shelter at the bus station by the library which is heavily used has had a gaping hole in its roof for over a year with no signs of repair until the year 2013 as stated by Cllr Colin Williams.
Such is the state of democracy in our lazy thinking, poorly led, defeatist Ulverston.
A fair report is given in the Westmorland Gazette
Also the Evening Mail in greater detail.
They are supporting the bid of the Ulverston Coumunity Partnership (UCP) which their chairman Paul Jarvis stated to the council is designed to fail.
Despite the support from the community expressed in the 410 signature petition where 18 people have volunteered to work alongside staff from the existing TIC in order to ensure costs are low:
The council support the UCP who are saying "In the event that there were no other viable bids we offering a bid."
This means that it is not designed to be viable and takes no account of the views of the public that have expressed their concerns and willingness to be involved in a promising solution.
The public left the meeting stunned by the unwillingness of the council to engage with this issue other than in the rhetoric of meaningless words.
Cllr James Airey tried to guide the along discussion along by stating that he was adding his name to the list of volunteers and urged the counciol to take some action. Support for the UCP was all that they could manage.
With leadership like this we need to reconcile ourselves with the reality that Ulverston is heading for even more shop closures, the disappearance of our market and a town that has no aspirations for the future.
In fact clear thinking businessmen in the town believe we will become a ghost town unless the public start to assert themselves with strong leadership that begins to solve the towns problems; the prime one being our high charging car parks.
An example of the inadequacy of the council was the acceptance of two new bus shelters at the Health Centre and in the County Square with money coming from the County Council (our money). Yet the councillors weren't sure these were needed while the bus shelter at the bus station by the library which is heavily used has had a gaping hole in its roof for over a year with no signs of repair until the year 2013 as stated by Cllr Colin Williams.
Such is the state of democracy in our lazy thinking, poorly led, defeatist Ulverston.
A fair report is given in the Westmorland Gazette
Also the Evening Mail in greater detail.
Monday, 23 August 2010
The Visit Cumbria website
This site was started some 13 years ago - see http://www.visitcumbria.com/sitehistory.htm for a detailed history of the site and a bit about me.
Initially it was a hobby - for my own pleasure - and trying to fill a gap as there was little tourist info for Cumbria in general at that time.
There is no relationship between me and the tourist board who I think see me as opposition rather than a help.
About 3 years ago I decided to try and make some money from this by adding accommodation, places to eat etc, and compiled a list of all I could find - wrote to them all and got an almost zero response for advertising on the site.
I guess junk mail is not the best means - and I didn't have the time to ring around - this is not my main job - so that faltered a bit!
Recently a colleague of mine who has more time and more enthusiasm for telephone use has helped get more businesses to sign up, and is continuing in that effort.
Several other Cumbrian people have contributed photos and text - simply because they like what I am doing and are doing their bit to improve it - same reasons - its a hobby which has a useful end product.
I intend to keep this going as long as I keep going - and at some point will make some form of 'will' to hand it on to someone else should I not be in a position to do so myself. It is a valuable resource -and is improving daily as more and more gets added to it.
One colleague who lives in Kendal has documented the town in enormous detail - see http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/kendal.htm .
So - should you wish to use this site as a basis for promoting Ulverston - I am happy to help and promote as you see best - expanding on what I have done already. There could be a separate Ulverston Menu - listing and linking to all one wants to know abou the town - a website within a website. This could have its own name if you like - eg www.visitulverston.com which is available - that just links to this section on visitcumbria.
As for businesses - there is an accommodation section on the Ulverston page, and there could be a places to eat list, and a places to shop, and a list of tradespeople. See the Food and Drink, and Trades listing off the top menu. There could be specific ones from the Ulverston page if there were enough entries to make it worthwhile.
I have come up with a price of 86 pounds per year per detailed entry for the accommodation listing, with non payers just getting basic contact details (no weblink or email addess).
See http://www.visitcumbria.com/eat-cockermouth.htm for an example of places to eat in the Cockermouth area. (I am based in Cockermouth).
For businesses - I haven't discussed this yet with my colleague Vanessa who is looking after the marketing and advertising side of this - but there could be a reduced rate perhaps for a halfway type ad for businesses other than accommodation.
The 86 pound ad gets a brief description and pic and higher ranking in the listings, and on the detail page up to 6 pics and (within reason as much text as you want. Every page representing a place of interest -
say Wordsworth House for example - http://www.visitcumbria.com/cm/wordsworth-house.htm
has an option at the bottom for other places nearby -
which lists them, gives a map, and also lists any accommodation providers within the requested area.
Ongoing improvements are taking place all the time to the general appearance and features of the website, as I either have time to do it or funds to pay others to do it.
So - discuss this with your colleagues - and let me know what the outcome is - I'm sure I can offer something which promotes the town and its businesses, for an economic benefit to those businesses.
Best regards - Julian Thurgood.
ps - I am in the process of renaming all the pages and links from them - to give higher rankings in google, and upping the sizes of the pictures - in itself a major task.
see http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/ulverston.htm
Geoff - further to my previous message - there could be an events section just for Ulverston
- I have just found this - which looks pretty comprehensive - we could just link to that -
http://www.ulverstoncouncil.org.uk/events.php
And likewise an index of pics of regular events or festivals that take place - assuming someone has some suitable pics of previous events.
And anything else which is felt to be of interest - if somebody can provide the info - walks in the area, history of the area, etc etc.
Julian
I could offer a front page promo for the (still to be created) Ulverston main page - see http://www.visitcumbria.com/
there may be many visitors to this site who have never heard of Ulverston!
Julian
Initially it was a hobby - for my own pleasure - and trying to fill a gap as there was little tourist info for Cumbria in general at that time.
There is no relationship between me and the tourist board who I think see me as opposition rather than a help.
About 3 years ago I decided to try and make some money from this by adding accommodation, places to eat etc, and compiled a list of all I could find - wrote to them all and got an almost zero response for advertising on the site.
I guess junk mail is not the best means - and I didn't have the time to ring around - this is not my main job - so that faltered a bit!
Recently a colleague of mine who has more time and more enthusiasm for telephone use has helped get more businesses to sign up, and is continuing in that effort.
Several other Cumbrian people have contributed photos and text - simply because they like what I am doing and are doing their bit to improve it - same reasons - its a hobby which has a useful end product.
I intend to keep this going as long as I keep going - and at some point will make some form of 'will' to hand it on to someone else should I not be in a position to do so myself. It is a valuable resource -and is improving daily as more and more gets added to it.
One colleague who lives in Kendal has documented the town in enormous detail - see http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/kendal.htm .
So - should you wish to use this site as a basis for promoting Ulverston - I am happy to help and promote as you see best - expanding on what I have done already. There could be a separate Ulverston Menu - listing and linking to all one wants to know abou the town - a website within a website. This could have its own name if you like - eg www.visitulverston.com which is available - that just links to this section on visitcumbria.
As for businesses - there is an accommodation section on the Ulverston page, and there could be a places to eat list, and a places to shop, and a list of tradespeople. See the Food and Drink, and Trades listing off the top menu. There could be specific ones from the Ulverston page if there were enough entries to make it worthwhile.
I have come up with a price of 86 pounds per year per detailed entry for the accommodation listing, with non payers just getting basic contact details (no weblink or email addess).
See http://www.visitcumbria.com/eat-cockermouth.htm for an example of places to eat in the Cockermouth area. (I am based in Cockermouth).
For businesses - I haven't discussed this yet with my colleague Vanessa who is looking after the marketing and advertising side of this - but there could be a reduced rate perhaps for a halfway type ad for businesses other than accommodation.
The 86 pound ad gets a brief description and pic and higher ranking in the listings, and on the detail page up to 6 pics and (within reason as much text as you want. Every page representing a place of interest -
say Wordsworth House for example - http://www.visitcumbria.com/cm/wordsworth-house.htm
has an option at the bottom for other places nearby -
which lists them, gives a map, and also lists any accommodation providers within the requested area.
Ongoing improvements are taking place all the time to the general appearance and features of the website, as I either have time to do it or funds to pay others to do it.
So - discuss this with your colleagues - and let me know what the outcome is - I'm sure I can offer something which promotes the town and its businesses, for an economic benefit to those businesses.
Best regards - Julian Thurgood.
ps - I am in the process of renaming all the pages and links from them - to give higher rankings in google, and upping the sizes of the pictures - in itself a major task.
see http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/ulverston.htm
Geoff - further to my previous message - there could be an events section just for Ulverston
- I have just found this - which looks pretty comprehensive - we could just link to that -
http://www.ulverstoncouncil.org.uk/events.php
And likewise an index of pics of regular events or festivals that take place - assuming someone has some suitable pics of previous events.
And anything else which is felt to be of interest - if somebody can provide the info - walks in the area, history of the area, etc etc.
Julian
I could offer a front page promo for the (still to be created) Ulverston main page - see http://www.visitcumbria.com/
there may be many visitors to this site who have never heard of Ulverston!
Julian
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Need for a web site
This subject will be discussed at the meeting at 5:30 on Monday 23rd August 2010 in the Lantern House
About me - web sites I designed, when I taught Flash to 6 to 16 year olds: www.tygh.co.uk and www.tygh.co.uk/students
How other towns do their websites:
Thirsk map pop 4,500 Thirsk town - "Car parking is free in for one hour in Thirsk market place,"
Northallerton map pop 15,700 Northallerton town
Skipton pop 16,000 town
Hawick map pop This town has a massive carpark which is free on market day alongside a thriving Market with a wide range of market stalls 14,000 town
Grange over Sands pop 4,000 town attractions and town council site
Ambleside
Ulverston on Google
The following results are very disappointing from the Tourists viewpoint
Ulverston on Wikipedia look at the web site being recommended at the bottom - it's out of date
Discover Ulverston - festivals nothing there
The Ulverston Website - Leisure and Tourism - Ulverston Festivals and The Arts draw your own conclusions
Ulverston Cumbria - link about Ulverston on the whole this is a very encouraging site - check the links to the features being mentioned - they are covered in good detail by far the best site
Ulverston in Cumbria most of the links are out of date
Go Lakes Ulverston Events
Orchard House, Ulverston - local attractions Now this accomodation attracts more business than the owner can handle but look at the "main Ulverston site" - Ulverston.net and you get the Town Council site.
The official web site ulverston.net has now been wound up totally it has been going steadily down hill since is was handed over by Furness Internet who designed it initially
ulverstonuk.co.uk this site was designed by Chris Thorpe who was a lecturer in design when he died last year. It is sadly not being maintained.
The future: -
Blogs like this one?
Twitter like what is being done in Grasmere
Can Youtube be used more effectively like this - Flag festival
Conclusion the sites coming top of Google, do Ulverston and its many features, no favours.
Something needs to be done.
For a long time till last week, ulverston.net came first place on Google thanks to the original skill of Furness Internet. However the web site went steadily down hill in design and content because it was being maintained by someone too busy and lacking the skills to do the job well.The result in 2008 was this reported here on this site.
It had been hoped the the new site for the Town Council would be a great improvement. What happened was a site that concentrated on the Councillors and their business. The promotion of Ulverston and the surrounding area as a serious tourist attraction was neglected and the "Latest News" at present is giving us one item about the re-opening of Hoad in 2010 in amongst what was going to happen in 2008 and 2009.
By comparison I know of no other council that does such a poor job of promoting its town and surroundings in contrast to doing such a good job of promoting its councillors - all at the tax payers expense. Was the expense of this site justified when Ulverston,net was desparate for attention?
I'm convinced the closure of many of our shops in Ulverston is related to the Town having such poor web sites from the tourists viewpoint.Do the councillors care? If so what do they propose?
Do they intend to become better informed on the subject of the use of the Internet to promote towns, thus making better equipped to make important decisions regarding the town's future.
With no known proposal to continue the TIC in the Coro, the state of our web sites, and the lack of forward looking initiative being shown by our council (in regaining control of our car parks, toilets and market), there are some businessmen here who believe that Ulverston is going to become a ghost town.
Does this possibility occur to you?
About me - web sites I designed, when I taught Flash to 6 to 16 year olds: www.tygh.co.uk and www.tygh.co.uk/students
How other towns do their websites:
Thirsk map pop 4,500 Thirsk town - "Car parking is free in for one hour in Thirsk market place,"
Northallerton map pop 15,700 Northallerton town
Skipton pop 16,000 town
Hawick map pop This town has a massive carpark which is free on market day alongside a thriving Market with a wide range of market stalls 14,000 town
Grange over Sands pop 4,000 town attractions and town council site
Ambleside
Ulverston on Google
The following results are very disappointing from the Tourists viewpoint
Ulverston on Wikipedia look at the web site being recommended at the bottom - it's out of date
Discover Ulverston - festivals nothing there
The Ulverston Website - Leisure and Tourism - Ulverston Festivals and The Arts draw your own conclusions
Ulverston Cumbria - link about Ulverston on the whole this is a very encouraging site - check the links to the features being mentioned - they are covered in good detail by far the best site
Ulverston in Cumbria most of the links are out of date
Go Lakes Ulverston Events
Orchard House, Ulverston - local attractions Now this accomodation attracts more business than the owner can handle but look at the "main Ulverston site" - Ulverston.net and you get the Town Council site.
The official web site ulverston.net has now been wound up totally it has been going steadily down hill since is was handed over by Furness Internet who designed it initially
ulverstonuk.co.uk this site was designed by Chris Thorpe who was a lecturer in design when he died last year. It is sadly not being maintained.
The future: -
Blogs like this one?
Twitter like what is being done in Grasmere
Can Youtube be used more effectively like this - Flag festival
Conclusion the sites coming top of Google, do Ulverston and its many features, no favours.
Something needs to be done.
For a long time till last week, ulverston.net came first place on Google thanks to the original skill of Furness Internet. However the web site went steadily down hill in design and content because it was being maintained by someone too busy and lacking the skills to do the job well.The result in 2008 was this reported here on this site.
It had been hoped the the new site for the Town Council would be a great improvement. What happened was a site that concentrated on the Councillors and their business. The promotion of Ulverston and the surrounding area as a serious tourist attraction was neglected and the "Latest News" at present is giving us one item about the re-opening of Hoad in 2010 in amongst what was going to happen in 2008 and 2009.
By comparison I know of no other council that does such a poor job of promoting its town and surroundings in contrast to doing such a good job of promoting its councillors - all at the tax payers expense. Was the expense of this site justified when Ulverston,net was desparate for attention?
I'm convinced the closure of many of our shops in Ulverston is related to the Town having such poor web sites from the tourists viewpoint.Do the councillors care? If so what do they propose?
Do they intend to become better informed on the subject of the use of the Internet to promote towns, thus making better equipped to make important decisions regarding the town's future.
With no known proposal to continue the TIC in the Coro, the state of our web sites, and the lack of forward looking initiative being shown by our council (in regaining control of our car parks, toilets and market), there are some businessmen here who believe that Ulverston is going to become a ghost town.
Does this possibility occur to you?
Tourist Information Centre - dotting the "i"s
Someone pointed out that this topic needs clarification.
The statement that the Tourist Information Centre is closingin March is accurate.
However this closure would not result in their being any TIC in Ulverston. The field is wide open and anyone can put in a bid to run a centre.
If you are a private business you stand to gain by attracting tourists to your establishment.
The question for me is would we be happy having anyone doing this and doing it anywhere?
The people I speak to are very pleased with the set up at present and want to preserve it. They see it as ideally located and run by capable people.
Grange has managed to preserve its previous set up of operating out of its Town Hall on the high street. However only one of the original people behind the counter remain and then only three days a week.
The questions that concerns me are :
Would we be happy with anyone running this facility?
Is not its location important when we are in fact selling the Town to others?
Isn't the friendliness and competence of the people doing the job extremely important?
How would we feel that the choice was made entirely on a financial basis?
How would people feel for instance if it was run out of a house, shop with an axe to grind - religious, ethical (gambling) ?
Surely a service like this needs to stay under our direct control ?
At the moment:
Who will be making the decision about our TICs future?
Faceless people in Kendal.
What do they know about what we want?
Is there an alternative to the Town Council being our overseer?
The many people signing our petition certainly believe they want the existing TIC kept where it is and run on similar lines and they are ready to pay for it.
The statement that the Tourist Information Centre is closingin March is accurate.
However this closure would not result in their being any TIC in Ulverston. The field is wide open and anyone can put in a bid to run a centre.
If you are a private business you stand to gain by attracting tourists to your establishment.
The question for me is would we be happy having anyone doing this and doing it anywhere?
The people I speak to are very pleased with the set up at present and want to preserve it. They see it as ideally located and run by capable people.
Grange has managed to preserve its previous set up of operating out of its Town Hall on the high street. However only one of the original people behind the counter remain and then only three days a week.
The questions that concerns me are :
Would we be happy with anyone running this facility?
Is not its location important when we are in fact selling the Town to others?
Isn't the friendliness and competence of the people doing the job extremely important?
How would we feel that the choice was made entirely on a financial basis?
How would people feel for instance if it was run out of a house, shop with an axe to grind - religious, ethical (gambling) ?
Surely a service like this needs to stay under our direct control ?
At the moment:
Who will be making the decision about our TICs future?
Faceless people in Kendal.
What do they know about what we want?
Is there an alternative to the Town Council being our overseer?
The many people signing our petition certainly believe they want the existing TIC kept where it is and run on similar lines and they are ready to pay for it.
Talking to the Tourism Community
A morning spent yesterday visiting the businesses on Ulverston high streets showed a lot of support for the meeting to be held with the councillors next Monday at 5:30pm at The Lantern House. Many people are making a big effort to make sure that their opinions are heard by the councillors.
In addition to the concerns about the lack of a tourist web site and the future of the TIC, the hot topic is car parking.
After the first two topics have been dealt with to the satisfaction of the meeting we will look briefly at possible ways of solving the car parking problem.
One solution being discussed is the buying back of the running of the car parks by the Ulverston Town Council. This would mean that the Town undertook to pay SLDC so much a year in order to be independent and fix the charges themselves in the belief that they could be more businesslike and generate more cash than the present high charges that lead to many car owners to park on our streets.
This would allow the Town to decide if and when it wanted to provide free car parking.
It is worth noting that the Ulverston Town Lands Trust already own the Gill car park.
In addition to the concerns about the lack of a tourist web site and the future of the TIC, the hot topic is car parking.
After the first two topics have been dealt with to the satisfaction of the meeting we will look briefly at possible ways of solving the car parking problem.
One solution being discussed is the buying back of the running of the car parks by the Ulverston Town Council. This would mean that the Town undertook to pay SLDC so much a year in order to be independent and fix the charges themselves in the belief that they could be more businesslike and generate more cash than the present high charges that lead to many car owners to park on our streets.
This would allow the Town to decide if and when it wanted to provide free car parking.
It is worth noting that the Ulverston Town Lands Trust already own the Gill car park.
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Campaigning table at the market today gets excellent reception
I joined the Breastfeeding group beside the post box on the market square in order to get direct feedback from the public with a fact finding form.
It was surprising how many people feel that the council isn't doing a good job of supporting tourism without any prompting from me. We had one against and about fifty in favour and two unwilling to cough up to provide the Town Council with extra funds for support of a TIC and a web site focussing on attracting tourists to Ulverston to the tune of £5 pounds per year on the rates which is equivalent to about £20,000 to £25,000 per year.
I was surprised to find how disappointed people are with our councillors and the latter's inability to face tough decisions and how important an issue was being raised.
People in the town clearly value their TIC - even using it themselves. Many were also well aware what a shambles we have in the web sites that come top of google and how serous opportunities to promote many features of Ulverston are being missed.
I plan to be back on Saturday though I am booked elsewhere 10:30 till 12:30 pm.
It was surprising how many people feel that the council isn't doing a good job of supporting tourism without any prompting from me. We had one against and about fifty in favour and two unwilling to cough up to provide the Town Council with extra funds for support of a TIC and a web site focussing on attracting tourists to Ulverston to the tune of £5 pounds per year on the rates which is equivalent to about £20,000 to £25,000 per year.
I was surprised to find how disappointed people are with our councillors and the latter's inability to face tough decisions and how important an issue was being raised.
People in the town clearly value their TIC - even using it themselves. Many were also well aware what a shambles we have in the web sites that come top of google and how serous opportunities to promote many features of Ulverston are being missed.
I plan to be back on Saturday though I am booked elsewhere 10:30 till 12:30 pm.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Toursim - the views of some of our councillors
Mayor Phil Lister, Multi Councillor, James Airey (Town, District and County Councils) and Cllr Judy Pickthall who has been active regarding the TIC and the Town Market issues are all attending the meeting with the Tourism Community at the Lantern House next Monday at 5:30 pm
On Tuesday August 10th the day after my plea to the Council- From Town Councillor Colin Williams:
Hi Geoff, I thought you made some valid points last night. It's just so frustrating that we can't debate these issues brought up by the public at the time they are raised. I agree that the town needs to keep it's website up to date, otherwise there is no point in having a link to news, if the news is as old as you say. David Parrat has been updating pictures of the progress of the monument but you have to dig to know where these are.
The truth of the matter is that we don't have a person dedicated, or paid to gather all the touristy info together and then post it onto our site. DP is probably snowed under with other council stuff, especially whilst the monument has been ongoing.
If you have any ideas of how we could do things better then I'ld be happy to listen to them.
regards
Cllr Col
To which I immediately replied:
Cllr Colin Williams,
Thanks Colin, for your feedback. I'm encouraged that you thought that
I had made some valid points and that you regretted that there wasn't
an opportunity to debate the issues in the meeting.
I suggest that it would be a good thing to make sure that the topic
"The Town Council Support of Tourism in the Ulverston area" goes on
the agenda for the next Town Council meeting on Sept 4th.
I am finding that there is a lot of interest from those who benefit
from tourism - shops, restaurants and those providing accommodation.
Many of these will be attending this meeting to express their concerns.
They believe that The Town Council should do everything they can to
promote this important industry in the town.
There are two main concerns : the absence of a good web site and the
imminent withdrawal of SLDC support for our TIC.
I'm sure that those concerned will want to put their arguments forward
in writing before the meeting as well as emphasising their main points
at the beginning of the council meeting.
Can I assume that you will see that this item will be placed on the
agenda?
Geoff
Thursday 12 August Colin Williams replies:
Hi Geoff, I think that Ulverston community Partnership which is chaired by
Paul Jarvis have already been looking at a strategy for the future of
tourism.
As for your suggestion that I place your topic on the agenda for Sept 4th I
won't be doing that.
Yes I know you believe it is important but your asking me to bring an item
to the meeting I know very little about, and asking the council to support
tourism is a bit fluffy. I'm sure they all support tourism.
I'll have a think about this, chat to colleagues, and see if there is a more
constructive motion that we could discuss.
I'll also check out what UCP has been up to.
Colin
I have not heard anything further from Cllr Colin Williams
On Tuesday August 10th the day after my plea to the Council- From Town Councillor Colin Williams:
Hi Geoff, I thought you made some valid points last night. It's just so frustrating that we can't debate these issues brought up by the public at the time they are raised. I agree that the town needs to keep it's website up to date, otherwise there is no point in having a link to news, if the news is as old as you say. David Parrat has been updating pictures of the progress of the monument but you have to dig to know where these are.
The truth of the matter is that we don't have a person dedicated, or paid to gather all the touristy info together and then post it onto our site. DP is probably snowed under with other council stuff, especially whilst the monument has been ongoing.
If you have any ideas of how we could do things better then I'ld be happy to listen to them.
regards
Cllr Col
To which I immediately replied:
Cllr Colin Williams,
Thanks Colin, for your feedback. I'm encouraged that you thought that
I had made some valid points and that you regretted that there wasn't
an opportunity to debate the issues in the meeting.
I suggest that it would be a good thing to make sure that the topic
"The Town Council Support of Tourism in the Ulverston area" goes on
the agenda for the next Town Council meeting on Sept 4th.
I am finding that there is a lot of interest from those who benefit
from tourism - shops, restaurants and those providing accommodation.
Many of these will be attending this meeting to express their concerns.
They believe that The Town Council should do everything they can to
promote this important industry in the town.
There are two main concerns : the absence of a good web site and the
imminent withdrawal of SLDC support for our TIC.
I'm sure that those concerned will want to put their arguments forward
in writing before the meeting as well as emphasising their main points
at the beginning of the council meeting.
Can I assume that you will see that this item will be placed on the
agenda?
Geoff
Thursday 12 August Colin Williams replies:
Hi Geoff, I think that Ulverston community Partnership which is chaired by
Paul Jarvis have already been looking at a strategy for the future of
tourism.
As for your suggestion that I place your topic on the agenda for Sept 4th I
won't be doing that.
Yes I know you believe it is important but your asking me to bring an item
to the meeting I know very little about, and asking the council to support
tourism is a bit fluffy. I'm sure they all support tourism.
I'll have a think about this, chat to colleagues, and see if there is a more
constructive motion that we could discuss.
I'll also check out what UCP has been up to.
Colin
I have not heard anything further from Cllr Colin Williams
The role of the Town Council from one of the Town's successful traders
We have to get the message over that the council must deliver an effective & thriving town fit for both tourism and the local community.
It can only do this with the right criteria in place.
The traders cannot deliver all the above without the council making a commitment to deliver what the elected representatives have been charged to do.
ie Make Ulverston a town worthy of a visit on a regular basis.
We have to be also aware that there are a number of landlords in this town who are stubornly holding rents at restrictive levels and making it unattractive for new comers to the retail world.
I am unaware what can be done but council presence may prove worthwhile.
We need to ask the high street big hitters like HSBC, TSB, Bargain Booze - what exactly do U contribute to the town in supporting all the above criteria.Should this include even the edge of town garages who seem to profit regardless of any other issue.
Should we also demand more from our residents, charity groups, local clubs & pubs?
Gavin Knott
Appleseeds
It can only do this with the right criteria in place.
- Good, clean and safe access -- well sign posted
- Easy & cheap parking
- Good variety for festivals well advertised
- Good quality and variety of shopping
- A bustling market - both indoor & outdoor
- Responsible opening times from traders ( not shut 1/2 day wed)
- Important tourist information available to as wide an audience as possible
The traders cannot deliver all the above without the council making a commitment to deliver what the elected representatives have been charged to do.
ie Make Ulverston a town worthy of a visit on a regular basis.
We have to be also aware that there are a number of landlords in this town who are stubornly holding rents at restrictive levels and making it unattractive for new comers to the retail world.
I am unaware what can be done but council presence may prove worthwhile.
We need to ask the high street big hitters like HSBC, TSB, Bargain Booze - what exactly do U contribute to the town in supporting all the above criteria.Should this include even the edge of town garages who seem to profit regardless of any other issue.
Should we also demand more from our residents, charity groups, local clubs & pubs?
Gavin Knott
Appleseeds
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Flier for the Tourism Meeting next Monday
A flier has been designed and distributed on Monday to all the businesses that could be found in Ulverston concerning the need for our Town Council to be more supportive of the Tourist Industry in the town.Please feel free to download this flier (as a word document) and distribute it by email or as a paper print out to all those interested.
A meeting is to be held
Monday 23rd August 5:30pm - The Lantern House.
to review the present situation regarding the imminent closure of the Tourist Information Centre and the lack of a good web site promoting the town to potential tourists.
Monday 23rd August 5:30pm - The Lantern House.
to review the present situation regarding the imminent closure of the Tourist Information Centre and the lack of a good web site promoting the town to potential tourists.
Several councillors including our mayor , Phil Lister, and multi councillor, James Airey (Town, District and County) have said they will be there.
For more information on this topic click here
Saturday, 14 August 2010
SLDC financial support for a Tourist Information Centre
David Phillips, who is charge of the present TICs in South Lakeland has provided the following information:
£375,000 is available over the next four years to cover five centres including Ulverston,starting with £150,ooo in the first year.
He agreed that a likely split was that the amount available would diminish by a third each year and that Ulverston could get £25,000 to £30,000 in the first year falling to £8,000 to £10,000 in the fourth and final year.
The other TICs to be supported were : Kendal, Windermere, Broughton and Ambleside.
Then he states that Grange and Coniston's grant will be decided at a special grant panel meeting in October.
£375,000 is available over the next four years to cover five centres including Ulverston,starting with £150,ooo in the first year.
He agreed that a likely split was that the amount available would diminish by a third each year and that Ulverston could get £25,000 to £30,000 in the first year falling to £8,000 to £10,000 in the fourth and final year.
The other TICs to be supported were : Kendal, Windermere, Broughton and Ambleside.
Then he states that Grange and Coniston's grant will be decided at a special grant panel meeting in October.
Thursday, 12 August 2010
The attitude of the Town Council drives me close to tears
A very subdued Geoff Dellow presented the case for the council to support the tourist industry , here in Ulverston.
Deaf ears were what I expected.
I wasn't disappointed.
So now I'm out talking to the business community in the town and getting quite the opposite reception.
There is keen interest in making a bold statement to our Council by attendance en masse at their next meeting on one Monday 6th September at 7:15.
Cllr Colin Williams, who regretted privately the lack of an opportunity to debate the issue at the last meeting, has been asked to table an item for the agenda of this next meeting:
"The Town Council Support of Tourism in the Ulverston area"
A pre-meeting of those who benefit from tourism with interested councilors is being organised.
It will focus on two issues:
The imminent closure of the Ulverston Tourist Information Centre in the Coronation Hall next March 20011.
The failure over the past four years for the council to provide an attractive web site for those researching a holiday in the Ulverston area using the internet. The contrast with Grange over Sands is dramatic.
Those interested in this issue should approach me using gd at tygh.co.uk to be informed directly - otherwise continue to use this blog.
In a subsequent development, the Evening Mail has picked up on my plea to the council last Monday with an article that embellished their story to create a good head line with a statement about putting 80p on the council tax. All I did was highlight Grange's Town Council different attitude whereby they have made a 2.5 % rise in their rates to help with their Tourist Information Centre and their web site.
Deaf ears were what I expected.
I wasn't disappointed.
So now I'm out talking to the business community in the town and getting quite the opposite reception.
There is keen interest in making a bold statement to our Council by attendance en masse at their next meeting on one Monday 6th September at 7:15.
Cllr Colin Williams, who regretted privately the lack of an opportunity to debate the issue at the last meeting, has been asked to table an item for the agenda of this next meeting:
"The Town Council Support of Tourism in the Ulverston area"
A pre-meeting of those who benefit from tourism with interested councilors is being organised.
It will focus on two issues:
The imminent closure of the Ulverston Tourist Information Centre in the Coronation Hall next March 20011.
The failure over the past four years for the council to provide an attractive web site for those researching a holiday in the Ulverston area using the internet. The contrast with Grange over Sands is dramatic.
Those interested in this issue should approach me using gd at tygh.co.uk to be informed directly - otherwise continue to use this blog.
In a subsequent development, the Evening Mail has picked up on my plea to the council last Monday with an article that embellished their story to create a good head line with a statement about putting 80p on the council tax. All I did was highlight Grange's Town Council different attitude whereby they have made a 2.5 % rise in their rates to help with their Tourist Information Centre and their web site.
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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