Should Rhuthun again have a tourist information centre? The obvious and clear answer is “yes”. The fact we have one no longer probably reflects the cost involved and the number of visitors we get. The costs outweigh the benefits and, as such, this is why the Llangollen centre now doubles as the Llangollen & Rhuthun TIC (or at least this is how staff answer their phone). We should nevertheless still aspire to our own.As the old Craft Centre closed for demolition, so went the permanent TIC. The new Craft Centre sees a tourist gateway, an information point, basically a room with leaflets. It’s unlikely we can afford a full TIC in the future but there may be ways of tackling this at lower cost. What about these?
Craft Centre
Double up the Craft Centre sales shop with TIC, as it always used be. Is there sufficient time for the staff to do both? Such a move would give year-round daily coverage. Simple face-to-face answers aren’t necessarily time-consuming. Booking a bed ahead might prove so but there could be a free phone link to Llangollen for such a purpose.
Old Gaol
Similarly, could staff at the Old Gaol provide such an add-on? This venue has fewer visitors than first envisaged. If so, this opens daily during both the low and peak summer season. It’s also just off the A494, with ample nearby parking at Park Road.
County Hall
Use the reception at County Hall. There was once a plan to incorporate some sort of police reporting presence at County Hall reception. Instead, how about something along the lines of a TIC? County Hall currently provides information about services for residents. Could a tourist service be added? The downside is it opens five and not seven days but, unlike the Gaol, it opens in the winter.
Nantclwyd y Dre
This is a good in-town solution, just off St Peter's Square, and might be incorporated into a wider plan to open the 2009 Quayle Award winner more often (currently, it’s at weekends only). (Following the award, belated congratulations to those involved, BTW).
Library
This is probably the first port of all for all those who wish to find out information on local services. My guess is that Library staff already provide an informal tourist service, of sorts. It wouldn’t take much imagination to extend formally the range of information the library staff can provide. And it opens 5½ days. It would be good to see an extra half day’s opening.
Private Sector
Is there anyone in the private sector who could take on the mantle, either for a modest sum, or as a community-minded initiative for the town? Right now, I’m thinking the Manor House/Manorhaus or similar, some business with a clear vested interest in the town’s tourism well being. True, there might be a bias towards the operator but is that better than nothing at all?
Empty Shop in Town
Nirvana but costly.
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Tourist Info