New tourist information point for Garstang Library

Wyre Council and Lancashire County Council are working together to transform the way customers access information about the local area with plans to relocate tourist information provision to Garstang Library.

Currently based at the Visit Garstang Centre in Cherestanc Square, which the council leases from Booths, a new tourist information point has been proposed for the library. This will allow extended opening hours and provide a boost to footfall for the library, as well as delivering both efficiency savings for Wyre Council and a new income stream for the library.

A report published this week has been approved for Wyre Council to give notice on the lease of the current Visit Garstang Centre and enter into a lease with Lancashire County Council to create a tourist information point within the library. The space will provide a range of information about Wyre, what’s on and where to visit, that people can browse at a seated area or take away. Customers will also be able to look through the Discover Wyre website on a user friendly touch screen kiosk and find out more about Wyre’s towns, villages, events and attractions.

Relocating the service to Garstang Library will allow for the continuation of the council’s tourist information provision in the area whilst also bringing together a range of public services in one location.

In addition, a hot desk space and meeting facilities will be retained in the town for council staff to use, helping to build relationships with Lancashire County Council and other partners already using the library. This will benefit both councils and improve the library’s sustainability through increasing its offer to the public as well as a modest financial contribution under the new lease.

Garstang Library is open six days a week including Thursday night, which is more than the current Visit Garstang Centre, making it more accessible during longer and more varied opening hours.

Councillor Lynne Bowen, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Health and Community Engagement at Wyre Council said, “We are fully committed to encouraging more people to visit Wyre. We have recently invested in a new Discover Wyre website which is due to go live this month and have employed a marketing officer dedicated to promoting Wyre as a place and all the brilliant things there are to do here. We are installing digital screens in our town centres to advertise what’s on in the area and we hope to work with local tourism businesses to promote everything our great borough has to offer.

“We are pleased to be joining other local services such as the Children and Family Wellbeing Service at the library to create a community hub in Garstang and enhance the sustainability of the library for years to come.”

Cllr Peter Buckley, cabinet member for community and cultural services at Lancashire County Council, said, “Relocating the tourist information provision to Garstang Library will yield several benefits to Wyre residents and those visiting the area.

“These proposals will make the tourist information point more accessible and bring more people into Garstang Library, enhancing what is already an excellent offer.

“The proposals are also financially responsible, making some vital savings for both councils at a time when every penny counts.”