To update Members on the progress being made in the refurbishment of Kington Library.

Members were updated on the progress being made in the refurbishment of Kington Library.

Two questions were received from members of the public.

Miss Edwards, Kington Tourist Group asked:

“A burning question which concerns a number of bodies and individual people in and around Kington, is the provision Herefordshire Council intends to make to enable Kington Tourist Group to continue its work following the move of the Council’s Info. Department to the Library and the imminent proposed sale of the building at 2 Mill Street.

We read that Tourism is vital to the economy of the County and Kington T.I.C. has a role to play in helping to build that economy.  What is Herefordshire Council planning to do to ensure this vital service survives to serve Kington, one of the County’s market towns, and the hinterland?” 

Mrs Bradbury asked. 

“In Kington, Sure Start and the Doctor's Practice both need new buildings, both also get finance from the Primary Care Trust and Herefordshire Council can they not be encouraged to share and have space for other organisations? For example Age Concern, Citizens Advice Bureau, Credit Union etc all serving the public, plus Kington Tourist Group shortly to be made homeless by Herefordshire Council?

The Weslyan Chapel is crying out to be restored and brought back into public use. We find the lack of joined up thinking and planning very frustrating and disappointing.

NB You are meeting in the Burton because we have no Community Hall available during the day!”

The Interim Head of Economic and Community Services informed the meeting that Kington Tourist Group was independent of the Council Tourist Information Centres (TICs) whilst Kington Tourist Group had a close working relationship with the Council the Group had its own policies and procedures.

Currently the Library was being redeveloped in the Town to which the Council’s Info shop was relocating.  The Info shop was currently located in the same building as Kington TIC, however, once the Info shop had relocated the Council was intending to sell the building which it had occupied.  Kington T.I.C. had been offered the opportunity to relocate to the newly refurbished Kington Library.  Thereby providing a similar situation to the one that currently existed at the Bromyard Centre were the leisure centre, library and TIC all operated from one building.  Kington Tourist Group had been offered a similar arrangement and raised concerns over the space offered to them.

The Committee was informed that Kington Tourist Group were currently in talks with potential partners with regard to purchasing the building they currently occupied.  The Council’s offer of space within the refurbished Kington Library was also still available.

A Member expressed his concern that to relocate the TIC to the library was a mistake.  In its current location the TIC was located near the main car park in Kington which was used by most visitors.  The library was not near this or any other car park so the likelihood was that if the TIC relocated to the library that there would be a downturn in the number of people using the TIC.  The lack of parking would also make the relocated TIC difficult to access for disabled users as there was only one disabled parking bay near the library.  He felt that the current arrangements for the TIC should be maintained as the current provision was staffed by volunteers at no cost to the Council.

The Cabinet Member (Community Services) and the Director of Adult and Community Services reassured the meeting that talks were still continuing between the Council and Kington Tourist Group as to possible options for future location.

The Cabinet Member (Community Services) and the Director of Adult and Community Services reassured the meeting that talks were still continuing between the Council and Kington Tourist Group and no decision had yet been made on this issue.

A Member of the Committee stressed the importance of addressing the issue before the start of the tourist season in 2007.  She too emphasised that the proximity of the TIC to the car park encouraged visitors to use the TIC and this helped to generate business for attractions across the County.

At the invitation of the Chairman Miss Edwards responded and informed the Committee that she felt that to it was unsuitable to relocate the TIC into the library as it would not be a good place for tourists to visit.  She felt that Kington should have a TIC as it served the town and local villages as well as the wider County and Wales.  She highlighted the fact that the TIC was staffed entirely by volunteers and that the office had recently completed a refurbishment.

The Cabinet Member (Resources) indicated that the Property Services Manager was in talks with Kington Town Council about the possibility of them purchasing the office currently housing Kington Tourist Group.

A Member suggested that the value of the site where the TIC was currently located was not too expensive.  He also felt that Kington Town Council should not have to buy the building from Herefordshire Council as the building was already owned by the taxpayer.

In response to Mrs Bradbury’s question, the Interim Head of Economic and Community Services informed the meeting that Herefordshire Council did seek to adopt a co-ordinated approach to its projects as illustrated by the integration of the library and Info shops.  The library was being refurbished in order to make it compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act, and space within the new building would be available for use by the local community.