Wall is best site for visitor centre
Last updated 09:40, Friday, 14 November 2008
NORTHUMBERLAND National Park Authority (NNPA) has insisted that Once Brewed is the ideal location for a new multi-million pound visitor centre along the Hadrian’s Wall corridor.
Results from the NNPA’s feasibility study, released this week, has shown overwhelming local support for the visitor attraction – Landscapes in Action at The Sill – to be sited at the tourist information centre near Bardon Mill.
Haltwhistle Town Council last week claimed that plans to locate the education and information centre outside of the town would be detrimental to businesses and take custom away from Haltwhistle.
But NNPA hit back, stating that trade throughout the area would benefit from increased tourism.
The findings from the study showed that, out of 100 local businesses surveyed, 70 per cent strongly agreed that The Sill – as it is known locally – should be located at Once Brewed.
It also showed that 84 per cent of businesses felt The Sill could have a positive impact in encouraging more visitors to the area while 77 per cent supported the idea of The Sill as a shop window for local enterprise.
Over two-thirds of the businesses surveyed said The Sill could benefit the local economy and encourage new enterprise and business opportunities.
NNPA said that it was a long way off from making a formal proposal for the project, but was pleased with the support from local businesses.
Director of area operations at NNPA, Catriona Mulligan, said: “We have got a long way to go before there is a proposal and before we hold formal consultation.
“Our communication plan is very much to ensure that we can begin to focus on feedback from organisations such as Haltwhistle Town Council and Haltwhistle Partnership.
“Businesses have been involved through the feasibility study and the results are positive.”
The reason NNPA identified Once Brewed as perfect for The Sill was due to its central location along Hadrian’s Wall.
The centre would aim to offer additional professional tourist information to visitors, on top of its award-winning service already provided.
The tourist centre won a gold award in the Green Tourism Business Scheme 2008 and a gold in the Enjoy England Gold Tourism National Award 2007.
Once Brewed tourist information centre continued to provide high quality service to tourists along the wall, said the NNPA. It added that any major redevelopment could only be beneficial for the whole area.
Miss Mulligan said: “We have got a world class visitor centre provision at Once Brewed offering a high standard of service.
“There are several phases of consultation with local people about how we can improve the service at the centre even more. The Sill is not something new.”
NNPA visitor development manager Duncan Wise added: “It has been a visitor centre for 40 years so has had quite a high level of professionalism over that time.”
NNPA is keen to promote the picturesque landscape in Tynedale, and believes Once Brewed offers one of the best spots along the Wall’s corridor.
Miss Mulligan said: “The primary research identified that the natural landscape is core to a visit to both Northumberland and the central zone of Hadrian’s Wall.
“You quite simply cannot view the historic monument without viewing the landscape. The landscape is core to the existing offer and is the reason why this part of Hadrian's Wall is so popular – rather than, say, the section in Newcastle.
“The opportunity to have this unique and special landscape interpreted significantly enhances the overall appeal of the area to potential visitors.”
