Sustainable Tourism Working Group

Transcription

1 Sustainable Tourism Working Group Minutes Date: 22 April 2013 Time: Venue: 10am-12:40pm Allendale Forge Studios, Allendale, Northumberland Present Beck Baker (BB) Jude Leitch (JL) Pauline Elliott (PE) Tina Raynor (TR) Rachel Milner (RM) Shane Harris (SH) Kaye Jemmeson (KJ) Sonia Kempsey (SK) Peter Samsom (PS) James Fell (JF) John Taylor (JT) Heather McCarty (HM) Nic Cullens (NC) Northumberland Tourism YHA (chair) Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum Raby Estates AMBA/AMP Northumberland County Council Weardale Visitor Network Natural England 1.Apologies for absence Apologies for absence were received from:

2 Richard Greenwood Deb Humble Craig Wilson Allen Valleys Tourism and Visitor Network Visit County Durham Richard Newman Jessica Goodfellow Andy Lees Eden Tourism 2. Minutes of the last meeting The minutes of the last meeting held on 12 November 2012 were agreed as a true record. 3. Matters arising not covered by the agenda SH reported that the North Pennines Tourism Business Survey has not yet been carried out for capacity reasons. The survey will be re-scheduled at a date to be decided. 4. Interactive Management Plan session SH reported that comments from the last session on the Management Plan have now been fed into the review process. It is likely that there will be fewer objectives in the new Management Plan but the objectives will be broader in scope. SH circulated a comments sheet and invited the group to comment on where the North Pennines as an area, is now, what actions are needed and what outcomes expected, in order to move closer towards the desired long term impact. JL reported that Northumberland Tourism is currently engaged in a similar process with the long term aim of increasing tourism in the county by 6%. A report should be in place by the end of May and will focus on the economic benefit to the county and outline investment needed. The group were given time to annotate their sheets and briefly discussed some of the points made as follows: Walks and cycle rides: The group agreed that there is a need for both paper based and e- routes and JF informed the group that data acquired recently has shown that 54% of people attending a festival in Northumberland came as a result of a hard copy leaflet, 26% attended as a result of on line promotion and 20% as a result of newspaper advertising. The group agreed that there is now a need to identify any gaps and then identify routes to fill those gaps. There is also a need to identify family friendly routes. The group agreed that the Etape Pennines could be used as a springboard to promote cycling in the North Pennines and that cycling as a means of transport should be promoted as well as cycling for leisure.

3 Explore North Pennines: The group commented that it will be important to obtain feedback from users and that the site must be relevant and updated regularly. The group stressed the importance of promotion and marketing of the website and discussed the need to advertise in cycling and walking magazines. SH reported that a development plan for the website is currently being worked on. The group agreed that slow download speed in the North Pennines is still a problem and that there is a need for free and accessible wi-fi. The group commented that an objective to develop an Explore Ap could be included in the Management Plan. Green accreditation: The group agreed that support mechanisms are needed to help businesses become greener in their practices and that there is a role for NPAP to provide support and possibly funding. JL commented that the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership have recently held successful workshops and suggested SH contact Iain Robson to discuss. The group agreed that it would be useful to set up a buying group for the North Pennines. SH reported that it might be possible to set up a group within COAST. ACTION: SH to contact Iain Robson (Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership) and schedule a meeting of interested parties. Events: The group agreed that there is a need to co-ordinate all events and a calendar which is able to harvest events from other calendars would be useful. There could be a role for the AONB Partnership into coordinate this and to discuss with the three DMOs. Attractions: The group agreed that there is a need to facilitate visits across county boundaries and link attractions together in some way. Suggestions included discounted entry, a shuttle bus, asking attractions to cross promote, tour buses from city centres. SH asked the group to any other ideas to him. The group also identified the need to ensure that all leaflets about the North Pennines are displayed together. ACTIONS: SH to collate ideas and comments. ALL to any other ideas and suggestions to SH as soon as possible 5. Update on Allen Valleys Landscape Partnership Scheme Development Andy Lees was unable to attend the meeting and the paper was presented for information.

4 6. Update on proposed North East Protected Landscapes Rural Economy Grant (REG) project. PS gave a verbal report on this project and informed the group that the funding parameters (60% private sector funding, 40% public sector funding) had proved problematic. Defra adjusted the parameters in December but now want to run the project through LEADER. The project partners (Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership and Northumberland National Park Authority) have concerns which have been passed back to Defra. A response is awaited. 7. Round table updates on activities specifically relating to the North Pennines AONB Northumberland Tourism A visitor survey is to be carried out this year and volunteers are needed to carry out the surveys. 30 questionnaires must be completed in each location. It was agreed the BB might be able to carry out the survey in the North Pennines. JL confirmed that it might be possible to carry out the survey in locations just outside the county boundary (E.g. South Tynedale Railway Alston) and that a financial contribution might be needed to cover the analysis costs for these surveys. Northumberland County Council JF reported that Haltwhistle, Hexham and Corbridge Tourist Information Centres are still operated by Northumberland County Council. Alston Moor Business Association/Alston Moor Partnership SK reported that 2 more walks leaflets should be ready for summer half term which will bring the total of completed leaflets to 5. Alston Moor Partnership is currently developing a marketing strategy which will be sent to Shane for comment. Roe Baker has been appointed as the Sustainability Officer (funding from Big Lottery via Cumbria Action for Sustainability). She will be focussing on community transport, electric bikes and a hydro scheme. Weardale Visitor Network JT reported that for the first time Weardale and Teesdale are being promoted together under the strapline Durham Dales in this year s Durham Pocket Guide. Funding has been obtained to produce new bedroom browsers and these should be distributed in the next few weeks. The Durham Dales website is soon to be updated and simplified. The Weardale Action Partnership is working closely with Durham County Council to try to list Weardale as a priority area for faster broadband. Auckland Castle has been re-opened as a new tourist attraction with the possibility of marketing the attraction as a gateway to Weardale and Teesdale.

5 Natural England- Moorhouse Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve (NNR) HM reported that this year s event leaflet is about to be distributed. The budget for the NNRs for this year has been cut and the final budget amount is awaited. HM to meet with NPAP staff to discuss partnership working at Bowlees Visitor Centre. Killhope, the North of England Mining Museum TR reported that the museum now falls within the Neighbourhoods department of DCC; this year s budget is not yet confirmed. DCC have carried out works on site to ensure the site is fit for purpose. DCC is moving towards trust status for the museum together with libraries and swimming pools. A biomass boiler has been delivered but is yet to be installed. The objective is that wood will be supplied from the site within a couple of years. Many trees have fallen during the winter and the woodland walk is still closed. Red squirrels are still on site and every effort is being made to keep them there. The site now has a cockerel and hens and pigs will be coming on to site soon. The decision from HLF is expected in June. Raby Estates High Force is now fully open but general maintenance is still on-going. The shop has had a partial refit. A new website is currently being developed and a micro site for High Force will exist within this. Raby Castle was unable to open over Easter due to snow and is scheduled to reopen in May. New events are planned for the castle this year which include a Tudor fashion show, Taste Teesdale Food festival and a visit from the Moscow State Circus. SH circulated copies of North Pennines News, Richard Watson trail leaflet, a new Derwent Reservoir leaflet and a European Geoparks magazine. The anniversary Annual Forum is to be held on the evening of 7 th June at Allendale Village Hall. Booking is online through A designer/maker has been appointed for the Pendlebury Award. Nominations for recipients will be launched this week and members of the Partnership will decide the winner. The award will be presented at the Forum by one of Bob Pendelbury s daughters, Joy Thompson. The winner will present the award at next year s Forum in a symbolic relay. A successful sense of place workshop took place in Garrigill with partners Nurture Eden and Cumbria Tourism. Explore North Pennines was launched in England Tourism Week.

6 SH gave a quick update on Bowlees. A second floor has been installed providing a space for meetings and special events. The interpretation is to be refreshed. A new kitchen is about to be installed and expressions of interest have been received from 8 local catering businesses. Ii is hoped that the centre will be finished in May and the official opening will be sometime in June. The centre will close for the season at the end of October. A development officer (Sarah Kelly) has now been appointed and will work 3 days per week and NPAP staff will help to staff the centre until a team of volunteers has been built up. A local caretaker has been appointed. A ticket machine will be installed in the car park (voluntary donation) and the ticket will be used for discounts in the café. A loyalty discounted parking scheme is also to be developed. The path to Gibson s cave is now just passable and drainage work is planned. SH introduced KJ and welcomed her to the meeting. KJ has been appointed as the Marketing and Communications officer for the. 8. AOB and date of next meeting HM informed the group that a defribulator is to be offered to Newbiggin Village Hall, she suggested that if Newbiggin Village Hall Committee does not wish to have this is could be kept at Bowlees Visitor Centre. PS reported that it is the 10 th Anniversary of acquiring Geopark status and discussions are taking place within UNESCO which may mean that Global Geoparks will become an official UNESCO initiative. SH reported that KJ will be working one day per week on marketing and promotion of the South Tynedale Railway. The next meeting will take place on 3 July 2013 at Bowlees Visitor Centre.

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