New Alresford Town Council

DRAFT Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting

Wednesday 23^rd April 2008

at 6:30pm in the Station Buffet

Present: Cllrs Phillips, Yeldham, Read. Anna Wilson-Barnes (Watercress Line)

Member of Public: None

Apologies: Cllr. Gentry, Colin Chambers (Watercress Line), Eloise Appleby (Winchester Tourism)

Press: 1 (Margaret Gould)

43	Cllr Phillips opened the meeting welcoming Anna Wilson-Barnes who represented the Watercress Line.
44	Declarations of interest None
45	Minutes of the meeting 9^th January 2008 Minutes AGREED (Proposer: Cllr Yeldham, Seconder: Cllr Read)
46	Public Questions None
47	Budget And Expenditure To Date MP was pleased to report that overall the total income/expenditure came in slightly under budget. This was helped by the fact that no contribution was made to the VIP due to it being out of order.
48	Projects
48.1	Watercress Festival: It is hoped that problems with the budget have been resolved by not printing so many programmes and by increasing the price of them The BBC One Show is coming to record the event, thanks to Jennifer Hiorns for her work on this.
48.2	Hanging Baskets/Bowser: It looks like the take-up will be slightly better than last year with the amount of requests in at present about 94. There are 7 confirmed sponsors with 7/8 still not responded. Alresford Salads have donated £1000, Keats is sponsoring the watering and Warwick Trailers are still to be approached.	JC
48.3	Millennium/Arle Valley Trail Maintenance: Clerk spoke to Mr Paul Thompson of HCC who advised that his team will carry out a tidy-up in week commencing 5 May with another scheduled later in the season, date to be confirmed. He is still to come back to the Clerk with a map and details of the exact area they take responsibility for. MP informed the meeting that David Goodman and the Wednesday Conservation Volunteers will be resurfacing between Fulling Mill and Ladywell Lane on 30 April. They will be re-shingling areas of Arlebury Park on the same day. The Millennium Trail should be looking really good by the Festival. MP is hoping there will be more work carried out on the trail later on in the year particularly leading up to Eel House. There has been a bit of damage recently partly due to the works being carried out by the new owner of the farm alongside. KY to find out contact details and MP will endeavour to obtain a donation towards repairing the trail. There seems to be an increase in dog fouling and AWB requested that more signs are erected along the Trail reminding dog owners to clear up behind their dogs and possibly installing a dog bin. Clerk to pass on to the Environment Committee.	Clerk KY/MP Clerk
49	Literature and Technology
49.1	Millennium/Arle Valley Trail Leaflets: 20,000 leaflets have been reprinted. Everybody is aware and supplies are going out. The insurance claim for the flood-damaged leaflets is still pending. Although we don’t expect to get the full amount requested anything will help. Clerk to keep on top of it.	Clerk
49.2	Alresford Pocket Guide: Impact Distribution have been kept as the distributors as they are the best rate, they currently have 25k leaflets and will collect more once their stock has diminished. There is likely to be an increase in price next year due to the thickness of the leaflets but apart from that they appear to be doing a good job. AWB is going to provide a copy of the map and a list of camp-sites that the Watercress Line literature is distributed to. She has offered to put our contact details and a sample of our leaflets in with the Line’s mail shots. Assistance with Postage costs would be required.	AWB/Clerk
49.3	V.I.P.: Watercress Line is now maintaining the literature stand ensuring that there are always Spend a Day, Millennium, Watercress Line and Winchester Tourism leaflets available. AWB reported that it is always stocked and due to its location it has a good turnover. There is some confusion over the V.I.P. as the telephone line apparently needs to be changed to Broadband. JR suggested contacting the Alresford on-line people to see what they can do for us. It was also mentioned that RG might be able to organize. Clerk to speak to RG on his return. Among other items local transport details will be available once it is up and running	Clerk/RG
50	Reports
50.1	Eel House Restoration Project: KY reported that railings have now been erected but as yet the internal refit has not taken place. A grant of £3k has been awarded by WCC but is subject to conditions (please see attached notes from Winchester Tourism). KY has some old footage of when it was working and is hoping they will be able to use it to recreate how it used to be. It is likely that the Eel House won’t be open for at least a couple of years. It was suggested that an information board, with artwork of how it used to look, be made available.
50.2	Winchester Tourism: Please see attached report.
50.3	Chamber of Commerce: Their priorities are with the Watercress Festival at the moment. AWB/JR reported the AGM went well.
50.4	Watercress Line: AWB reported that February had been a very good month with an increase of approx 25%. The good weather during the half term, a visit from a main line engine and the 30^th anniversary celebrations were all contributory factors. Unfortunately the Thomas events were down this year due to the poor Easter weather so the WL is planning to run a couple of extra dinner evenings. The 25^th anniversary of extension is on 25^th May. Media coverage should boost sales significantly. Promoting Alresford to visitors by allowing them flexibility with their tickets. Using the line for commuters was mentioned but not practical due to cost implications, labour issues, incorrect rolling stock, the safety issue of having to leave engines running all night and minimal take-up. The bulk of the line’s business is lunchtime/afternoons. The Line is hoping that the Thomas event will improve for them due to it not running at Swanage or Bluebells. There was recently a very encouraging write-up in the Heritage Railway (April edition), copy attached. On 22^nd February 2008 the Watercress Line gained Visit Britain’s VAQAS accreditation. All members of staff have been CRB checked.
51	Any other Business Rotary Club: JR reported that there are approximately 50 entrants so far for the Rotary Run, slow uptake due to it being a new event. Local school children are being encouraged to take part in smaller fun run/walk at Arlebury Park. Looking for sponsorship of approx. £300-£400 - JR to give the Watercress Line more details. The main race commences at 10 a.m. KY offered to help on the day.
	Date of next meeting: Wednesday 25^th June 2008 at 6.30pm in the Station Buffet The Chairman closed the meeting at 7:30pm Chair Signature__________________________Date__________________