New calls to ‘celebrate the city’

Criticism of Peterborough’s new Visitor Information Centre

There have been calls for more to be done to celebrate Peterborough following an upgrade of the city’s tourist information centre.

The Visitor Information Centre (VIC) was moved from a unit in Bridge Street to the Town Hall at the start of the year, as part of a money-saving exercise from the city council.

When the move first happened, there was criticism that the new display of leaflets and brochures was ‘sad looking’ by Toby Wood from The Peterborough Civic Society.

In January the council said improvements were planned – but after the upgrade was completed, Mr Wood said he was disappointed by the work, which saw the addition of two mobile leaflet display shelves.

He said; “The current arrangements for providing visitors to the city with information appear minimal at the moment. There is very basic information available in the Town Hall foyer but nothing that truly promotes and celebrates our city.

“The civic society still maintains that we need a suitably sited. accessible and manned facility that says to visitors: ‘Peterborough is a city that we are proud of and here is some information that will help you enjoy it even further’.

The centre’s move was planned to save the council £85,000 in rent – but the unit vacated by the centre still remains empty, although a council spokesman said there had been ‘some interest’ in the space. The spokesman added: “Since January new signage and information including brochures and posters has been set up inside the reception area at the Town Hall. A member of staff is also available at the reception desk specifically to deal with enquiries.

“In light of increasing online enquiries, we launched the www.visitpeterborough. com website last year and this is now a popular source for visitor information.”

How the visitor centre at the Town Hall looked in January (left) and how it looks now (right) and (centre) one of two new leaflet dispenders