A FORMER mayor of Haslemere and past chairman of the association which encourages shoppers and visitors to the town has defended the role of the town Visitor Information Centre.
The comments by Michael Barnes, a town councillor and member of the Haslemere Initiative, follow a decision taken by Haslemere Town Council last week to set up a working party to look at the workings of the centre, funded by the town council.
It also wants to assess its value for money for the townÕs council tax payers, ahead of next yearÕs grant aid to the Haslemere Initiative.
Mr Barnes referred to comments made by the mayor of Haslemere Stephen Mulliner, at last weekÕs finance and general purposes committee meeting, over a lack of information from the Initiative concerning Waverley Borough CouncilÕs level of funding.
Unable to attend last weekÕs meeting, Mr Barnes accused the town council of delaying tactics over town council funding for the organisation.
ÒThe amount of money provided for the V.I.C. for the benefit of our community is risible but at least the current arrangement that Haslemere Town Council pay the overheads including the wages for the current visitor information officer, helps to make the appearance of our town encouraging in bringing and welcoming tourists, visitors and local residents through the V.I.C. network.
ÒBrian Howard and myself are representatives for Haslemere Initiative and well able to provide any information that is required.
ÒThe Haslemere Town Council appears to be delaying its decision- making yet again as all practical information is readily availableÓ
ÒTourism is the life blood of our community as it provides funding towards everything that goes on.
ÒWaverley Borough Council through its encouragement and support for Haslemere Initiative enables finance to be available for projects to be developed by Haslemere Initiative, which includes the Visitor Information Centre.Ó
And he declared: ÒIt is unfortunate that we seem to have some councillors who appear unable to recognise these advantages for whatever reason.Ó
He called on the town council to continue its funding and for the £9,300 it has requested this year for basic overheads, including wages.
And Mr Barnes has called for the Haslemere Initiative through its chairman, Haslemere solicitor Bryan Farley and Kevin Lorimer, the chairman of Haslemere visitor sub-group, chairman of Southern Region, British Hospitality Association and general manager of HaslemereÕs Lythe Hill Hotel to be responsible for the day to day activities of the townÕs information centre.
ÒPartnership is the key and with tourism being the life blood of the well-being of our town, it seems only right that partnership should comprise of Haslemere Town council, Haslemere Initiative, Waverley Borough Council and the Haslemere Educational Museum.Ó