Madam, re the possible relocation of TIC to the Heritage Centre, points to consider are, in my opinion:
• The current TIC occupies nearly as much floor space as the interior of the Heritage Centre. I have often felt that the latter is already struggling for space to display adequately the material it holds or borrows And, after all, the Heritage Centre is about the one place for tourists to look at in bad weather!
• The consequence is going to be either the TIC has to manage in very little space or the Heritage Centre loses out which would be a pity after the years that have been spent building it up.
• The stairs up to the Heritage Centre are a definite disincentive for visitors. I am aware that there is a lift, but this is not apparent at first sight - there needs to be much better signage at the bottom of the steps to indicate where the lift is.
• Where do coaches unload their passengers these days? One of the first things I need in a strange place is a toilet and another is some information as to what is where. If the answer to the first question is Cantilupe Road, the obvious place for relocation I would have thought would be the library - use the vestibule area which at present holds tourist leaflets anyway, it also has the necessary computer access.
I can see that the Council needs to try to cut expenditure, but then Ross needs tourists as well. Does the long-term saving justify the short term extra costs in this case?
Sheila Walshaw, Ross