Trade group considers Kirkby Lonsdale TIC take-over (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Trade group considers Kirkby Lonsdale TIC take-over

11:45am Thursday 9th July 2009

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AN ORGANISATION which aims to help businesses attract visitors could take over one of South Lakeland’s troubled TICs.

The Lakes Hospitality Association is in talks with Kirkby Lonsdale about running its tourist information centre along with a district office.

The Main Street service is due to cease in September when South Lakeland District Council pulls the plug because of budget constraints, but traders are hoping to find an alternative provider.

At a meeting of Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council on Wednesday members heard SLDC planned to charge the town £2,000 a year if it starts operating the TIC itself - or double the sum if it runs it alongside a business venture.

“We have another option though and that is that the LHA has expressed an interest in being involved. They are thinking they could run an office in Kirkby Lonsdale and incorporate the work of the TIC at the same time. It’s definitely something worth exploring,” vice chairman Allan Muirhead told the meeting.

Gail Bartolf of the LHA said: “It is one of the avenues we are looking at but obviously there is a lot to consider. (We) are obviously concerned with the threat of closure to any TIC in the Lake District. Our members will be directly affected and therefore we will explore all possible avenues with regards to finding a solution and this is the process beig undertaken at present.”

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