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[.]

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 2018/19) 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 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 Implications Financial: In addition to staff time, the capital outlay is expected to be approximately £10,500 Equalities: N/A 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 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 Action Embed more self-guided walking routes on the Breamish Valley web page Embed image and description of the Café at Ingram 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/ Create shorter routes on ViewRanger, to be uploaded onto website Timescale Q2 Q2 Q2 Q2 Lead Andrew Mitchell Andrew Mitchell Andrew Mitchell Cost Staff time Andrew Mitchell Staff time Staff time Northumberland National Park Authority Annual Meeting 11 July 2018 Urgent item tabled: Page of Urgent item: Improving Visitor Welcome in Breamish Valley Action Plan (By Q3 2018/19) 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 webcam (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 valley through the seasons 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 Print Revamp of the current Breamish Valley leaflet (5,000) 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 Café & Exhibition Set up meeting with tenant to identify short-term improvements to the exhibition New site signage at the café to promote facility and Information Point 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 Conclusion Q2 Duncan Wise Staff time Q2 Duncan Wise Staff time Q2 Duncan Wise Staff time Q2 Duncan Wise Staff time Q2 Duncan Wise Staff time Q2 Duncan Wise Staff time Q2 Duncan Wise Staff time Q2 Andrew Mitchell Staff time Q2 Duncan Wise Info Point Budget Q2 Duncan Wise Staff time Q3 Duncan Wise £5,000 Q3 Duncan Wise Est £2000 (tbc) Q2 Duncan Wise & Ruth Dickinson Duncan Wise & Ruth Dickinson N/A Q2 Duncan Wise £100 Q3 Duncan Wise N/A Q2 £400 Northumberland National Park Authority Annual Meeting 11 July 2018 Urgent item tabled: Page of Urgent item: Improving Visitor Welcome in Breamish Valley Action Plan (By Q3 2018/19) 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 Northumberland National Park Authority Annual Meeting 11 July 2018 Urgent item tabled: Page of ... in Breamish Valley Action Plan (By Q3 201 8/19) The actions listed above will improve the quality of information visitors receive about the Breamish Valley before they leave home and ensure they... signage at the café to promote facility and Information Point Bulby’s Wood Car Park & Toilets New sign to highlight Wi-Fi availability at Bulby’s Wood Information Point Market Research Undertake... Est ? ?200 0 (tbc) Q2 Duncan Wise & Ruth Dickinson Duncan Wise & Ruth Dickinson N/A Q2 Duncan Wise £100 Q3 Duncan Wise N/A Q2 £400 Northumberland National Park Authority Annual Meeting 11 July 201 8