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Bath & North East Somerset Council | |||
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Tourism Committee |
AGENDA | |
MEETING DATE: |
29th June 2000 | ||
REPORT AUTHOR: |
Peter Rollins - Tourism and Marketing Manager (01225) 477742 | ||
RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: |
John Cox - Acting Head of Economic Development and Tourism | ||
TITLE: |
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WARD: |
ALL | ||
BACKGROUND PAPERS: | |||
AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM | |||
1 SUMMARY
1.1 This report is an initial study into the viability of locating Tourist Information facilities at existing or future Park'n'Ride sites and serves to inform the Planning, Transport and Environment Committee of the views of Tourism Committee.
2 RECOMMENDATION
2.1 In relation to the provision of Tourist Information facilities at Park'n'Ride sites adjacent to Bath, that the Planning, Transport and Environment Committee be recommended to consider the following options:
2.2 The provision of a static or computerised Tourist Information Point at the existing Park'n'Ride sites.
2.3 The provision of a staffed 'satellite' Tourist Information Centre and/or a computerised Tourist Information Point at a future Lambridge Park'n'Ride site.
3 RESOURCE AND CORPORATE POLICY IMPLICATIONS (WHERE NECESSARY, THE VIEWS OF THE COUNCIL'S STATUTORY OFFICERS ARE REFLECTED IN THE COMMENTS BELOW)
3.1 Financial: The cost of providing Tourist Information facilities at existing or future Park'n'Ride sites in the form of a staffed Tourist Information Centre or a computerised Tourist Information Point featuring a touch screen kiosk is not currently in the Tourism Committee's budget. An estimate of the costs is contained in the report.
3.2 Staffing: Options include a 'satellite' Tourist Information Centre which would be staffed or a computerised Tourist Information Point which would not be staffed but which would benefit from the staffing resources being invested in maintaining the existing tourism databases.
3.3 Equalities: The Tourist Information Centre or Point would be accessible.
3.4 Economic: The Tourist Information Centre or Point would provide an extremely wide range of up-to-date information thus encouraging visitors to stay longer and benefiting the local economy.
3.5 Environment: The Tourist Information Centre/Point would provide a wide range of information, including places to stay, theatre, entertainment and attractions. Such an Information Centre/Point would provide a genuine welcome and help visitors orientate themselves.
3.6 Council Wide Impacts: The Tourist Information Centre/Point would contain information on the whole of Bath & North East Somerset and many other Council Services, including Heritage Services.
4 BACKGROUND AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK
4.1 Following a request from Tourism Committee to investigate the viability of Tourist Information facilities at Park'n'Ride sites, this report sets out some of the opportunities and issues.
4.2 The current provision of information at the Park'n'Ride sites could be improved. Initial discussion with Officers from Transport Planning indicates a real willingness to enhance the facilities.
4.3 Options for consideration include:
4.4 Option A. Provision of a city centre map of Bath to be located in a static Tourist Information Point. Currently, Scenic Maps Ltd has a contract to install scenic maps at the existing Park'n'Ride sites, similar to the scenic map at the Bus Station. In the interim period until such maps are installed, the opportunity exists to install a static Tourist Information Point containing a city centre map. The cost of the Tourist Information Point, including installation, is approximately £1,500 per site.
4.5 Option B Provision of a computerised Tourist Information Point featuring a touch screen kiosk in a building with existing communication/telephone links. This has the potential to provide 24-hour information on Bath & North East Somerset. The kiosk would not be staffed but would benefit from the staffing resources being invested in maintaining the existing tourism databases. The cost of a kiosk including license fees is approximately £10,000 plus the on-going line rental cost of £400 per annum.
4.6 Option C Establishment of a 'satellite' Tourist Information Centre which would be staffed by trained Tourist Information Centre Officers. This Information Centre could also incorporate a computerised Tourist Information Point featuring a touch screen kiosk, as described in Option B, which could give greater flexibility in terms of staffing at peak and off-peak times. Further analysis needs to be carried out to identify the capital and revenue costs.
4.7 The most important access route for day and staying visitors travelling by car to Bath is from the north and east, namely coming from the M4 motorway via the A46 and A4.
4.8 The Planning, Transport and Environment Committee decided at their meeting in May 2000 to progress a Park'n'Ride facility to the east of Bath at Lambridge.
4.9 Preliminary discussion with the Transport Planners indicates a willingness to site a Tourist Information Centre or Point featuring a touch screen kiosk as an integral, albeit small, part of this development.
4.10 It is believed that the provision of such a service, which would be actively promoted and signposted, would encourage visitors to use the Park'n'Ride facilities.
4.11 The staffed Tourist Information Centre would provide a wide range of services including an accommodation booking service and information on public transport, theatre, entertainment and attractions. The facility would provide an opportunity to promote the range of services and facilities not only in Bath but also throughout North East Somerset.
4.12 The Tourist Information Centre/Point would help visitors to orientate themselves and to make their way easily to their end destination
4.13 It is foreseen that planning permission for the Tourist Information Centre/Point would form part of the overall planning application.
5 CONSULTATION
5.1 This report has not been sent to Trades Unions because it has not yet have any direct staffing issues.
5.2 Preliminary consultation has taken place with the Transport Planners and the Engineering Consultancy team.
062000-1b
MEETING: