New blows loom for city tourism

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Wednesday, May 06, 2009
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This is Lincolnshire

The city council will no longer promote Lincoln to overseas tourists and will axe its marketing function completely, if proposals are passed.

The new information came to light after Lincolnshire Tourism decided it was unable to take over the marketing department run by the City of Lincoln Council.

The authority had planned to offload the work and close the city's Cornhill tourist information centre in a bid to save cash as part of an ongoing review of services.

But Lincolnshire Tourism has said that the transfer of services could prove too expensive for it due to the amount of red tape.

Some of the council's work could be continued through a partnership with Lincoln Business Improvement Group – which would also see the organisation taking on the operation of the Castle Square tourist information centre.

The authority will continue to be a member of Lincolnshire Tourism and says this will enable it to have some influence over marketing activities.

In council documents it says: "It is acknowledged that this influence will not be as significant as if the council was divesting its marketing budget to Lincolnshire Tourism."

The Cornhill TIC, which has been closed recently due to staff shortages, could also be closed at the end of June rather than the planned September deadline.

For more on the axing of the council's marketing department, see Wednesday's Echo.

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  • Profile image for This is Lincolnshire

    by Marc Glasscoe, Lincoln

    Thursday, May 07 2009, 12:41PM

    “n the early and middle decades of the Twentieth Century Lincoln had a proud manufacturing heritage. The Morrison¿s Supermarket on Tritton Road carries plaques commemorating the achievements of the men and women who worked in the factories in the area. This all changed during the seventies and eighties, when manufacturing declined nationally, and particularly in Lincoln.



    Still, we had nothing to worry about. With a fantastic cathedral, a great castle, a very impressive Bishop¿s Palace and the most northerly vineyards in Europe, we could keep the city ticking over with tourism. As someone who loves history, I thought this was a great idea. I also believe in protecting the environment, so when they flattened a car park to build a museum I wasn't exactly upset. Better public transport or a park and ride system would have been nice, but you can¿t have everything. Building Lincoln up to be a centre of historical tourism, alongside York and Norwich was a great idea. It would certainly support the local economy now that our manufacturing base has gone.



    Except it won¿t. We now see the infrastructure of our fledgling tourism industry being left to rot. The government refuses to fund it, the council can¿t find the money and the voluntary sector thinks it is too expensive and laborious to maintain. Meanwhile how many small businesses, shop keepers, hotels and others are going to suffer? How many of our fantastic (and I mean that) historical buildings will not be visited because of this short sighted decision? Lincoln holds one of only three original copies of the Magna Carta and yet we won¿t have a functioning tourism service to enable people to see it? There must surely be something wrong in that situation.



    The Council is guilty of weakness. But I would say the biggest fault lies in the system. Why are we able to throw money at bankers who have run their business into the wall, and yet we can¿t fund the local heritage industry in a city that is rich in history? On my twelfth birthday I was taken to Lincoln Cathedral. I could not believe the beauty of it. The only equivalent I can think of is St George¿s Hall in Liverpool. Yet by closing down the tourism function in Lincoln we will be ensuring that thousands will not view such a magnificent building.



    The local council has been deprived of funds for a number of years. We need to demand more government funding for local services, and this must include the heritage and cultural sector. If they can throw £50 Billion at the banks and a further £76 Billion on improving a redundant Trident missile system, then I think they should be able to find money for Lincoln¿s heritage and cultural industry. Personally I would prefer museums to missiles.”

  • Profile image for This is Lincolnshire

    by John, Lincoon

    Thursday, May 07 2009, 11:43AM

    “Lincoln is heading to become a backwater area for both visitors and tourists. In fact how Lincoln City Council has been treated the city for decades has resulted small businesses and shops closing down or moving out and going elsewhere.
    City Council and County Council are just not pulling their weight together and it appears that any progress has been derailed similar with private companies who run the railway system and public transport. For it has been reported that the company who currently has the franchise of bringing back trains going from Lincoln to Kings Cross may be pulling out due to costs and expense.
    The taxpayer is paying for the all of these mistakes.”

  • Profile image for This is Lincolnshire

    by Ian Bower, Lincoln

    Wednesday, May 06 2009, 2:55PM

    “With all these cuts I am really looking forward to a big council tax reduction next year. ;-)”

  • Profile image for This is Lincolnshire

    by Christopher, Lincoln

    Wednesday, May 06 2009, 1:01PM

    “Here We Go !! The same old thing? Lincoln Councils have done it for years,say they are wanting to progress with the city,and then putting it on a back burner.
    the city centre was going to be upgraded many,many years ago ! what's going on with that? Nothing as per usual..
    It's always the same, full of good ideas that go nowhere.”

  • Profile image for This is Lincolnshire

    by W.Wilkins, Lincoln

    Wednesday, May 06 2009, 11:01AM

    “Annonymous Coward, Yes first time ever we have agreed isnt it?.

    But like the point you raise, the money does not go directly all to them instead it mainly supports
    local business and the like, hence why they have such a negative outlook on tourism i think.”

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