Chamber's new bid

Chamber president David Getty said: "At the October meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism executive committee, it was unanimously agreed that the chamber should intensify its campaign for the reinstatement of visitor information services in Bexhill.

"The chamber considers the provision of out of town services from Battle to be wholly inadequate.

"Bexhill's accommodation providers have revealed that the number of bookings and enquiries received from Rother District Council's Battle service is a fraction of the number received from the former TIC on Bexhill's seafront."

At the meeting, thrown open to all chamber members and attended by many of the town's leading businesses in the accommodation and leisure sectors, it was resolved to invite proposals in the form of a business plan from anyone interested in operating a visitor information centre for Bexhill.

"Those attending the meeting felt that there should be a creative tendering process in which anyone interested in providing the service should set out the service they propose to provide, rather than respond to a prescriptive set of requirements."

Guidelines issued by the Chamber are:

'¢The Visitor Information Centre must be a physical building or part of a building '“ telephone and/or online services are not sufficient;

'¢The purpose of the VIC must include the distribution of leaflets, the provision of accommodation information including vacancies and rates, and the promotion of events;

'¢The VIC service should be aimed primarily at visitors rather than residents;

'¢Membership of TIC network is not essential.

Anyone, whether in business, the voluntary sector, or simply a member of the local community is welcome to put forward their proposal '“ the only stipulation is that you must be willing personally to run the service or employ someone to do so.

Proposals should be sent to the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Communications Office at 140 Barnhorn Road, Bexhill, TN29 4QG or by e-mail to [email protected]. The closing date is November 17.