NPA Report Blank for 20 March 2013

NPA Report Blank for 20 March 2013 Urgent item Improving Visitor Welcome in Breamish Valley Action Plan (By Q3 2018/19) Item Improving the Visitor Welcome in the Breamish Valley Action Plan (Q2 2018/1[.]

Item: Improving the Visitor Welcome in the Breamish Valley Action Plan (Q2

2018/19)

1 Purpose of Report

Following a visit to the Breamish Valley on the 13 June 2018, this report sets out the recommendations made by the Authority’s Review Panel, to enhance and improve the quality of the visitor welcome, in the short-term

2 Recommendation

The Authority is recommended to note the actions listed in the plan and approve the resources necessary to implement them by Q3 of 2018/19.

3 Implications

Financial: In addition to staff time, the capital outlay is expected to be approximately

£10,500

Equalities: N/A

4 Background

On 13 June 2018, the Authority’s Review Panel visited the Breamish Valley in order

to better understand the issues around the current visitor welcome and to review the range of visitor experiences within the immediate vicinity of the valley

This was part of a wider review of its role in delivering visitor experiences in the north of the Park (excluding Hadrian’s Wall and The Sill), and included factors such

as the quality and availability of information before the visit, the quality of road signage to guide visitors to their chosen destination, and the quality of the welcome and facilities they encountered upon arrival

5 Outcomes from Authority Review meeting

The Authority’s Review Panel agreed that a number of actions should be implemented in the short-term (3-6 months) to address some of the most obvious and timely issues, and that a costed-action plan be drafted for consideration by the Authority for early agreement of any budget required

Digital Marketing

Embed more self-guided walking routes

on the Breamish Valley web page

Mitchell

Staff time Embed image and description of the

Café at Ingram

Mitchell

Staff time

Either, assist Ingram Café tenant to

develop their own website, or

encourage them to join Heart of

Northumberland Tourism Association to

benefit from the current website design

offer by https://www.elmnet.co.uk/

Mitchell

Create shorter routes on ViewRanger, to

be uploaded onto website

Mitchell

Staff time

Add more content on journey times to

travel to the Breamish Valley from The

Sill, Newcastle, Berwick and Edinburgh

Add more content on dog owners

responsibilities and access-land

closures

Add link to weather line and live

web-cam (if operational) and Floodline

Add new content to highlight fire risk

and use of barbecues on haughland

Add new content on nearby attractions

(all weather) and Wooler Market Town

Add more content on wildlife seen in the

Add more content on the Branton Bird

Hide and birdwatching opportunities

More social media postings promoting

events and activities with links to the

NNP event booking webpage

Mitchell

Staff time

Print

Revamp of the current Breamish Valley

Road & Site Signage

Signage Plan to identify additional road

& site signage from the A697 junction

through to Hartside

New tourism road sign including: at the

A697 junction (mileage and symbols for

Information, Car Park, Toilets, Picnic

Site, View Point), near Branton Bridge

corner to indicate visitor proximity to the

haughland and picnic sites and at

Reavely junction to promote: Ingram

Bridge Car Park and Café, Bulby’s

Wood Car Park and Information Point

and Hartside

Additional site signage on the

haughland and at main car parks Q3 Duncan Wise Est £2000 (tbc)

Café & Exhibition

Set up meeting with tenant to identify

short-term improvements to the

exhibition

& Ruth Dickinson

N/A

New site signage at the café to promote

facility and Information Point

& Ruth Dickinson

£400

Bulby’s Wood Car Park & Toilets

New sign to highlight Wi-Fi availability at

Bulby’s Wood Information Point

Market Research

Undertake visitor Survey (face-to-face

and on-line) to acquire up-to-date data

on current visitor satisfaction and future

preferences from non-visitors

6 Conclusion

The actions listed above will improve the quality of information visitors receive about the Breamish Valley before they leave home and ensure they reach their destination more easily The findings of the Visitor Survey later in the year and subsequent discussion with other parties with vested interests in the Valley will help inform the longer-term re-development of the visitor offer, to the benefit of all parties Members are asked to approve a budget of up to £10,000

Contact Officer: Duncan Wise (Tourism & Marketing Manager)

Telephone: 01434 611521 e-mail: duncan.wise@nppa.org.uk

Background papers: None