TIC could be moved into Corn Exchange (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

TIC could be moved into Corn Exchange

DEVIZES Visitor Centre which opened in the Market Place seven years ago at a cost of £85,000, could be moving to the Corn Exchange.

Kennet District Council which runs the visitor centre has joined forces with Devizes Town Council to investigate the possibility of establishing a joint contact centre in the foyer of the Corn Exchange.

It would be manned by council staff and people would be able to get visitor information and details of local services.

Frank Marshall, director of resources at Kennet, told a meeting of the town council's recreation and properties committee on Tuesday, that relocating to the Corn Exchange would help overcome disabled access problems at the Visitor Centre where there are steps at the entrance.

Mr Marshall said: "Disabled people have to trail around the back of the building and we find that unacceptable. We can't do works to the building because it is listed.

"We are not looking to do this to reduce staff numbers, scale down the tourist information service or reduce the information service we provide at the Visitor Centre.

"On the contrary we want to improve and invest in new technology."

"There is a collection of pokey rooms in the Visitor Centre and it would be better for us to have an open, clear ambience such as in the Corn Exchange."

He said when the Visitor Centre moved from the Crown Centre to Cromwell House in 1998 there was no other building available in the town with disabled access.

He said an information kiosk could be open longer hours than the present centre.

Deputy town clerk Simon Fisher said: "We haven't determined the amount of space that is needed and we are aware there could be conflicts. But there are times when the foyer is not in full use and we are asking if it should have a more central role."

Councillors agreed to look into the proposal and a feasibility study is to be undertaken.