New visitor information points are a ‘leap forward’, says council leader

THE first of Worthing’s new visitor information points is up and running at the Denton Lounge.
Georgina Coningham-Naylor, Amanda O'Reilly and Daniel HumphreysGeorgina Coningham-Naylor, Amanda O'Reilly and Daniel Humphreys
Georgina Coningham-Naylor, Amanda O'Reilly and Daniel Humphreys

Located in the foyer of the seafront venue, the information point is full of local information and manned by specially trained staff.

Worthing Borough Council leader Dan Humphreys said: “I think it’s fantastic. It’s a great leap forward. I don’t think we are reinventing the wheel or anything but what we have done is go from an overly expensive way of providing information that depended on an expensive fixed location that was not easily accessible for everybody, to a position where we are expanding the points around the town providing the same information for far less money.”

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The next information point will open in Worthing Museum later this month and electronic touch points at both venues will follow.

Footfall at the Denton is already said to have increased as a result of the addition of the information point.

Speaking from the Denton on Tuesday, Bryan Turner, Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “The theatre economy is part of the social fabric of the town for residents and visitors alike. It’s also staffed at the weekend as well. We could never afford to staff the tourist information centre properly.

“We are doing it at just the right time of the year, just before Easter with summer season about to kick off and we are really optimistic now.”

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Staff at the visitor information point in the Denton will also sell tickets for the theatres in addition to providing information.

Amanda O’Reilly, the council’s head of culture, said she had seen a ‘real change’ in the response to Worthing with high-profile acts now keen to perform in the town.