Future of Bexhill's TIC

Or could it be handled by St Leonards road digital media centre Digilicious?

A third option to be considered by Rother cabinet on Monday is Access East Sussex information points in buildings such as the station or information "iplus" kiosks.

Rother director of services Tony Leonard is inviting the cabinet to look again at the thorny question of a Bexhill tourist information centre and "agree a way forward" so officers can the financial implications for the 2008-2009 budget.

Bexhill hasn't had a TIC for more than two years. At present, phone calls are handled by the Battle TIC.

A year ago the cabinet decided there was not a sufficient business case to justify re-opening a centre in Bexhill. Officers were instructed to investigate alternative smaller-scale options and to report to cabinet with recommendations and cost estimates.

Mr Leonard says: "Officers have met with representatives from the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism to discuss the options and to work in partnership to progress these.

"Members of the Chamber of Commerce had previously met to discuss the provision of tourist information within the town and what they would like to see in Bexhill.

"Consensus from this meeting was that a TIC operating to national networked standards was no longer required, but that some form of staffed presence should be available to visitors to provide information; the best vehicle for this being within an existing attraction.

"The Chamber subsequently held a consultation during October 2006 to seek proposals from interested parties.

"From that consultation only one proposal was received, from a non-Chamber member who had already independently approached the council."

Outlining the current options, Mr Leonard says: "Officers have been in discussion with a number of interested parties; including Bexhill Museum, Digilicious Media and the Redstack Playhouse.

"Written proposals were requested from the three parties, of which two were received, from the Museum and Digilicious Media.

"The museum is keen to develop an information service within the refurbished museum, to be located within the new museum shop, planned to open in the Summer of 2008.

The service could include;

*Touch screen kiosk with broadband access allowing visitors to view tourist information, including the 1066 Country website. The kiosk would allow members of the public to book accommodation online via the 1066 Country Destination Management System as they would from home.

*Window-mounted LCD screen providing 24 hour scrolling information and advertisements, businesses will be given the opportunity to advertise on the screen at a small cost (yet to be determined).

*Leaflet display racks, both wall mounted and stand alone carousels.

*External poster box to include a map of the town with key points of interest highlighted and other tourist information.

*External signage for the information service to be erected outside the museum, to include the recognised 'i' sign."

The museum's estimate of the capital costs of installation are detailed in a confidential appendix for members.. "The museum would undertake to maintain all ongoing revenue costs involved in the operation of the information centre and this will be reflected in the museum operating costs (part-funded by the council)..

Mr Leonard says Jay Brewerton of Digilicious Media is keen to develop an information service for Bexhill and also responded to the Chamber of Commerce's consultation in October 2006. Members are being provided with confidential costings.

The service would include: service would include:

*Physical presence in Bexhill within existing Digilicious Media's existing office building with shop frontage on St Leonards Road. Open 10:00 a.m. '“ 3.00 p.m. on Saturdays, closed Sundays.

*Provision of display racks for leaflets, booklets, maps etc.

*Provision of digital information through the use of the Internet.

*24/7 'infomercials' will be displayed on Plasma screen TVs within the window and shop; infomercials will be about facilities in the town and surrounding areas

"Access East Sussex Information Points could provide access to the internet for local information, including tourist information.

"The information points also provide additional facilities such as sending emails, mobile phone top-ups and printing of digital photographs which are also of use to visitors. To date, a total of nine of these kiosks have been installed in various locations around the district, including the Bexhill Community Help Point at Amherst Road.

"The Access East Sussex kiosks are suitable for indoor use only and are too bulky to install within the museum or Digilicious Media.

"However, such a kiosk could be installed in an arrival point with a larger available indoor space, such as the railway station.

"Another option would be to install outdoor information kiosks, similar to that installed outside the town hall in Hastings. These 'iplus' kiosks offer customers permanent outdoor broadband access to relevant internet based information, such as, tourism facilities and services including online booking and availability checks, Council services, travel information, local news and information.

"The kiosk itself is a highly visible piece of contemporary street furniture acting as an effective marketing and communications tool for the destination, promoting the brand along side local services. Both the appearance and the software of the kiosk can be tailored to specific requirements.

"Suitable locations for an outdoor kiosk would be at principal points of arrival such as the railway station, the De La Warr Pavilion car park, in Devonshire Square, or by the coach drop-off point outside the Town Hall.

"The costs for installing these 'iplus' kiosks comprise a 'one-off' cost of 12,500 per kiosk to supply, install and brand the kiosk, plus a further 'one-off' cost of 10,000 to develop the content and software. In addition, a further cost would be incurred to connect each kiosk to a power supply and BT network.

"Thereafter each kiosk would require an annual maintenance charge of 4,000. There would also be a small ongoing cost for the BT connection and power usage.