Eighteen interested parties in bid for Tourist Information Centres

28 July 2010

Eighteen interested parties have approached SLDC about taking over the running of the council’s Tourist Information Centres (TICS) in Kendal, Ulverston and Windermere.

Last month the council advertised for interested parties to come forward with expressions of interest into taking over the TICS from 1 April 2011, or earlier by agreement.

It follows a council decision back in December 2009 that SLDC would cease to provide the TICS on 31 March 2011.

Since then 18 different parties have come forward with some wanting to take over the running of all three centres.

The interested parties include businesses from both the public and private sector, culture and tourism and community partnerships.

Letters have now been sent to all the parties inviting them to a meeting in August after which they will be asked to submit detailed business plans for the council to consider.

Cllr Graham Vincent, SLDC portfolio holder for Economy and Enterprise, said: “I’m really pleased that so many different parties have come forward and are keen to take over the centres.

“This is a great opportunity for businesses or community partnerships with energy and drive to make a real go of the TICS.

“The next step is to meet with all the interested parties for further discussions, they will then draw up  business plans so the Council can then consider who is best placed to take over each centre.”