Collabore8- Destination Talgarth.

Minutes of the Meeting held on the 9th March 2010 at the Castle Hotel, Talgarth

Attendance:   Carol Williams, Helen Jones, Joyce Shaw, Punch Maughan, Elaine Starling, Catherine Parkinson, Tony James, M. Meredith,  Barbara Christopher, William Powell, F. Morris, Clive Michaelwright, Geoff Smart, A Caffyn

Apologies   LM Badham, J. Wake.

The meeting was taken by A. Caffyn.

Subject – draft action plan.

Comments were requested on the draft plan produced since the last meeting.  It appears that only Punch Maugham and Carol Williams have received draft copies.  As sufficient copies were not available, it was impossible for those present to comment.

Alyson C stated that the Draft Action Plan was based on the opinions expressed during the last few meetings.

A brief resume of the Action Plan ensued, including comments on “What Talgarth had to Offer”

(1)     Accommodation,

(2)     Places to visit.

  Comments were made that the proposed Mill Project should have broad appeal and give people a reason for coming.

(3)     Activities mentioned including Gliding  and Fishing.

(4)     Attending Male Voice Choir Rehearsals, Bell Ringing.

(5)     Food and Drink Locations,

(6)     Market

(7)     Events and Festival were mentioned, including the Monthly Market and Car Boot Sale, Micro Brewery opening at Easter.   Bike Fest in June/July.

Website.(A)

The importance of an up to date website was stressed.

The TIRC’s role is seen as crucial.  Issues discussed generally re the web site and the role of the TRIC. The TIRC website was set up 10 years ago.  If the TRIC go with “Visit Talgarth Site” it appears that accommodation that is ungraded cannot be included.

Barbara Christopher stressed that the main problem had been that people that used the TRIC website had not in the past returned with up to date information.   There was also the question of the long term cost to the TRIC.    P. Maughan expressed the view that visitors needed to know what to expect.   The grading system was one way of achieving this. It was decided to discuss the issue at length at the end of the meeting.

The Pledge.  Local organisations etc needed to sign up and pledge to the Action Plan.  There is a pledge in the Draft Plan.

The meeting then divided into groups to discuss “Experiences visitors to Talgarth ‘must do’!”   (Took 20 minutes to discuss)  

The groups supplied a long list of must do activities which Alyson took away.

Projects:   The following projects were identified as the most crucial

(1)  The website

(2)  Signage.

(3)  The Mill- proposed project.

(4)  Destination Talgarth

(5)  New promotional leaflets

(6)  Cycling Mountain Bikes

(7)  PR Plan.

Website  (B)  A Caffyn outlined, “What is helpful to the Visitor re Tourism?”

1.    The website should be really attractive and interesting.

2.    It should tempt the would be visitor.

Whatever the system is, it needs to link the various venues, activities etc.

It was pointed out that the Regeneration Group were launching a Community Website which aspired to host Tourism Businesses.

This website would also contain details about the Town Council etc.

For a Tourism Website to succeed, it needs to feed information to visitors about what they need.

Tony James stated “It was recognised that the TRIC website needed up dating.   The TRIC has received a quotation from a programmer in Glasbury to build a specific website for use by Talgarth TRIC.  The problem, as the TRIC sees it, is that, at present in Talgarth, there are a number of local businesses who contribute to the TRIC website, who would not be able register on the Visit Talgarth.com website (Destination Talgarth website) because they are not registered for accommodation.  For example, “The Tower” offers a mixture of accommodation including “The Bunk House” which cannot be graded.   It was suggested by P. Maughan, that

(1)  This issue may be resolved quite soon because there is a case being challenged in Court.

(2)  That “Visit Talgarth” would enable Talgarth TRIC to network with other TIC’s.

(3)  The Visit Talgarth site is free at present but will cost £150 per year, once Collabor8 Funding ceases.

Tony James explained that the TRIC needed to generate business to pay for the running of the centre.  Businesses in Talgarth are prepared to pay £30 to the TRIC for use of their website.

Carol Williams stated that in two weeks, Collabor8 were visiting Olympia in London.  She needed to know whether she is promoting the “Visit Talgarth Website or not?

There was some confusion expressed by parties at the meeting.  A degree of clarity needs to be established so that Tourism businesses in Talgarth are aware of how they are being promoted.

It was mooted that the TRIC Website and the Visit Talgarth website could be in the same Domain.

Before the next meeting, members were asked to review the Draft Action Plan which will be emailed to them.

The meeting closed at 12.30 p.m.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 13th April at the Gliding Club at 10.30 a.m.