Council anger as bid to save visitor centre fails

Kevin McRoberts • Published 1 Jul 2009 14:48 0 Comments

EFFORTS to persuade VisitScotland to keep a staffed Visitor Information Centre (VIC) in Clackmannanshire have failed - with the tourist body now only offering an unmanned facility.

Clackmannanshire"s councillors had hoped that a partnership involving the council, VisitScotland and Sterling Mills Outlet Shopping Village could have resulted in a staffed information centre remaining in the county.

But VisitScotland has now suggested an unstaffed Visitor Information Point with the cost of provision being picked up by the council.

While the council has expressed disappointment over the breakdown in talks, VisitScotland insists it is still committed to discussions over the future of information provision in the county - but that doesn"t include a staffed facility.

Councillor Kenny Earle, the council"s spokesperson for tourism, said, 'We believe there is a strong case to have a staffed Visitor Information Centre in Clackmannanshire through the summer. Both the Council and Sterling Mills Outlet Shopping Village were willing to provide a great deal of support for such a centre.

'This late change in VisitScotland"s stance is, therefore, very disappointing. Nevertheless, we will continue to work with VisitScotland in an effort to provide information facilities for visitors to Clackmannanshire.'

Paul Sutton, retail operations director for Sterling Mills, added, 'Ever since VisitScotland took the decision to close the Visitor Information Centre, Sterling Mills has taken an active lead in trying to find a way to re-introduce the facility.

'With the council"s active support acting as co-ordinator between the three parties I felt confident that a solution could be reached.

'Indeed, I believed that the contributions offered by the council together with our support for the project would see us achieve our goal of bringing back a staffed visitor centre. I am therefore extremely disappointed that VisitScotland has withdrawn from these discussions.'

VisitScotland, however, has expressed astonishment at the comments from the council and Mr Sutton.

A spokesperson for VisitScotland said, 'Following VisitScotland"s last meeting with Clackmannanshire Council on 17 June, we understood that the council would consider the idea VisitScotland had put to them regarding an unmanned information point.

'We also understood that Paul Sutton would approach his tenants to ask about the possibility of this unmanned information provision being located within one of the centre"s units; and to that end the council requested the measurements for the information point only last week.' 

VisitScotland insisted the decision to close the Tillicoultry Visitor Information Centre was based on reduced revenue from bookings and increased operating costs, compounded by a reduction in local authority funding, which meant that the VIC was not financially viable. The VIC at Sterling Mills closed in April.

The spokesperson added, 'We understand the visual impact of having a VIC located in the county but feel strongly that there are better ways to use funding, particularly when the short term lease agreed with the council for the VIC has proved to not make good business sense.

'We will continue to work closely with local tourism businesses and tourism groups to support their promotions and bring visitors to the Clackmannanshire area.

'Clackmannanshire is important to Scottish tourism and VisitScotland has advised the money used to support the VIC would be put to best use by developing more on arrival marketing of the Clackmannanshire area. This would provide the best return on investment.'

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This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 02 Jul 09

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