On Course to Boost Tourism in West Lindsey

Two courses are planned to boost tourism which will take place in March this year West Lindsey District Council has announced.

The first is 'Focus on Marketing' on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010 at the Hume Arms in Torksey and the second is on Tuesday 23rd March 2010 when 'Bed and Breakfast Profits' come under the microscope at Welton Manor Golf Centre. Both events are being organised by West Lindsey District Council, and Chairman of the Economic and Regeneration Committee, Cllr. Malcolm Parish, Conservative (Welton Ward) says they will contain practical tips to boost business.

"Marketing is key to any business plan and the first course will examine the latest marketing trends to capture new customers and retain existing ones.

"The second course focuses on bed and breakfast profits and practical knowledge to ensure that day-to-day operations are as cost effective as possible.

"Waste, menu planning, and stock control are included and the course is aimed at owners, chefs and operators of bed and breakfast businesses."

Both courses cost £15.00 per person. The marketing course starts at 10:00am and finishes at 1:30pm and the bed and breakfast course starts at 10:00am and finishes at 2:30pm. Lunch is included at both events.

For more information contact Marion Thomas on (01427) 676676, e-mail marion.thomas@west-lindsey.gov.uk.

Outline proposals for tourism in Lincoln unveiled

The Tourist Information Centre on Castle Square, Lincoln will stay open if plans for the City of Lincoln Council to work in partnership with Lincoln Business Improvement Group (BIG) to provide services are approved.

Negotiations about increasing the subscription given by the City Council to Lincoln BIG have taken place in recent days. As part of the plans, Lincoln BIG would take over the management of the Tourist Information Centre to provide a face-to-face tourism service in the city.

The decision is still subject to Executive approval and consultation with affected staff. If approved, plans would mean:

The City Council would enhance its annual subscription to Lincoln BIG.
Lincoln BIG would operate the Tourist Information Centre in uphill Lincoln.
Four full time posts would be retained.
Lincoln BIG would look at generating further income through its provision of tourist information, which could then be invested into the tourism service.

The agreement comes after an extensive review of the council’s Tourism, Marketing and Arts Service. The Executive recommended the closure of both Tourist Information Centres from September 2009 as part of the council’s need to reduce its annual budget by £2.5 million.

Following the decision, Councillor Darren Grice, Leader of the City of Lincoln Council extended a challenge to businesses in Lincoln to help provide a tourism service in the city, and he is delighted with the recent discussions.
Councillor Grice said:

"We’re still in the very early stages, but we have reached an agreement in principle that Lincoln BIG will take over the management of the centre on Castle Square, with the help of a grant from the City Council.

"The reaction to our decision to close the Tourist Information Centres was phenomenal, but the savings target was fundamental to that decision and it was imperative that we met that target for the future sustainability of the council.

"This option means we can still make the necessary savings, whilst retaining the Tourist Information Centre that people feel is most needed. The fine details of how this will work are yet to be drawn up, but this is an excellent opportunity to provide a top quality tourism service. I am overjoyed that we have made such progress and hope that residents, visitors and businesses will reap the benefits.

Ursula Lidbetter, Chair of Lincoln Business Improvement Group added:

"We are pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement in principle with the City of Lincoln Council for Lincoln BIG to take on the operation of a customer facing Tourist Information Centre on Castle Square.

"Lincoln BIG is funded by business ratepayers in the city centre and this agreement fits well with the other things that we do to improve peoples' experience of the city centre. It will safeguard the future of our warden scheme and compliment the work we are doing to create a wireless information network across the city centre.
Everyone has a role to play as ambassadors for Lincoln and we don't see this as just providing an information centre, but as the Tourist Information Centre acting as the focal point for over 600 information provisions in the city.

"We have ensured that this is an additional benefit but at no additional cost to our members. It will generate commercial revenues using the expertise of our members, better integrate events and information provision and the web and give the businesses more say in the operation and standard of tourist information in the city."

Visit by Alan Duncan, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

Alan Duncan MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, visited Lincolnshire earlier today and had a meeting with the Executive Head and Academy Head at The Priory LSST Academy. This was followed by a question and answer session with members of the Sixth Form's A-Level Politics group, who were able to quiz Alan and Karl McCartney, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Lincoln.

Karl McCartney said:

"The students asked very intelligent questions and seemed to enjoy the opportunity to quiz us both. The were especially interested to hear about MPs expenses which have made such big news in recent weeks."

Alan and Karl joined Giles McNeill, Conservative County Council Candidate for the Nettleham & Saxilby Division, together with other city, district and county councillors for a buffet lunch at the Adam & Eve Tavern on Lindum Hill.


Giles McNeill and Alan Duncan MP

Giles after the lunch commented:

"It was really good to get to speak to Alan again, and very good of him to give us a first rate chat about the importance of doing well in the County Council elections on June 4th. We discussed a number of issues including Lincoln's Tourist Information Centres, The Economy, Parliamentarty Expenses and The G20 summit."

Tourist Information Offices in Lincoln

Giles McNeill has today issued the following statement:

"The City Council has announced plans to close Tourist Information Centres, despite increasingly strong and sustained opposition from local people - I join with local residents now to support ensuring the Lincoln has viable tourist information services for many years to come. We are all aware of the impact Lincoln has on the local communities of the Nettleham & Saxilby Division.

"The decision has come despite projected increases in tourist numbers this year from both the domestic market, and international visitors, using the strong dollar and euro to holiday in the UK.

"I know that the City of Lincoln Council is like so many of us having to weather the economic problems caused by the Labour Government and I do not envy Cllr. Darren Grice's position of having to make the hard decisions, but in this instance I hope he can be prevailed upon to find other solutions to the council's financial problems brought about by Labour's mismanagement."