Tarbert with community hub vision plans for the future
The people of Tarbert are drawing up a plan of action following VisitScotland’s decision to close the village tourist information centre.
The closure was announced last autumn, with the doors due to shut in March 2019.
But the move has now been brought forward and the Tarbert iCentre is set to close on the last weekend in October, as will iCentres in Campbeltown and Inveraray.
VisitScotland blames the decision on visitors’ increased use of the internet and smartphones to obtain information, and justified its decision in a statement which said: ‘In the past 10 years, Tarbert iCentre has experienced a 10 per cent decrease in footfall, while Campbeltown and Inveraray have experienced 51 per cent and 62 per cent decreases respectively.’
But the Tarbert community is not taking this lying down, with Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust planning to open a heritage display, community hub and limited tourist information service in the building currently occupied by the iCentre.
The trust has been canvassing local support for its plans, and forms placed in Tarbert shops have already gathered more than 100 signatures in favour of the proposals, with many additional suggestions.
Trust chairman Alan Macdonald said: ‘We are excited at the opportunity to provide an additional attraction to the village and continue to provide a limited information service. We look forward to VisitScotland accepting our proposals and working with us to ensure a smooth transfer of the facility over the coming weeks.
‘A lot of work will need to be carried out before the transfer and anyone wishing to volunteer should get in touch through our website.’
A VisitScotland spokesman said: ‘We are currently in discussions with Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust about proposals for future use of the property and have the support of the local community.’
Tarbert businessman Ian Macintyre believes the transfer of the premises should be a formality. He told the Advertiser: ‘In the original constitution for the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islay Tourist Board, the last paragraph is that in the event of this situation, any assets should transferred to an appropriate local body. I think that should still hold.’
The trust’s asset transfer plan is backed by Argyll and Bute MSP Michael Russell, who said: ‘I made it clear when this plan was first announced that there would have to be alternatives in place before any closure. That remains my position and
I am concerned that, for example, there is still no fast mobile phone speeds and broadband in some parts of the area which are necessary to get information from the developing providers.
‘I have been supporting the proposal from the community trust for the Tarbert premises and I am hopeful that there can be an asset transfer, not least because it seems that the building was only given to VisitScotland on the understanding that if it stopped using it, it would revert to another body doing the same sort of work.’
Councillor Alastair Redman added: ‘I would support the Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust in their talks to ask for an asset handover and take over the tourist centre building.’
VisitScotland states that tourist information provision will continue across Argyll and Bute through a network of more than 130 VisitScotland Information Partners (VIPs) primarily based in hotels and guest houses, with three of these in Tarbert, four in Campbeltown and two in Inveraray, alongside ‘outreach’ staff attending events around the country.