Visitor hub is investment in town’s future
Callander looking to 2021
Callander is preparing for what it hopes will be a post-coronavirus visitor season 2021 - including new premises for the local visitor information centre.
Last year saw the Callander VIC (Visitor Information Centre) welcome around 20,000 visitors in its first year, over seven months of activity.
However, the centre has been unable to reopen for the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 situation.
The closure has deprived those visitors who have begin to return to Callander, albeit largely on a day or short visit, of a place to access information, consult maps and guides, buy local souvenirs and seek advice and first-hand information.
The volunteers - all members of the local community - meet a wide range of people to communicate their personal information, enthusiasm and advice about Callander and its environments.
Discussions had begun for planning a potential reopening of the VIC in Spring 2021, with a professional part-time manager and, hopefully, an ever-expanding group of volunteer staff.
To bridge the interim gap, a website has been set up, containing focussed and clearly presented information at: www. visitcallander.uk.
But thinking longer term they realised the current premises, leased from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, were not ideal as there was no certainty over the lease - a new opportunity emerged.
With the former RBS building at 55 Main Street, opposite the current premises, on the market, the board (Callander Community Centre Ltd) viewed it as an ideal location.
Callander Community Development Trust directors agreed and put in an offer for the building. This was accepted at the beginning of October, subject to survey, agreement of missives and legal contracts. The building will host the VIC on the ground floor and the development trust, with ideas from the wider community, will decide what to do with the upper floors.
Frank Park, trust chair, said: “Number 55 Main Street is a major statement by CCDT for the future of Callander.
“This investment secures a home for our VIC, staffed by our amazing team of volunteers, who assist our visitors with a wealth of local knowledge and a welcoming smile.
“The upstairs offers an opportunity for development as residential, holiday let, education, community or business space and we will be consulting with our community and local businesses to decide the best option.”
If there are no problems, practical work will begin to transfer the VIC to the new building, with the aim of opening there for the tourist season in Spring 2021.
In spite of the potential purchase, there will be no change in the number or value of the Hydro Fund grants, which are administered by CCDT.