Fears closure will land tourism blow
FEARS are growing that tourism in Linlithgow may suffer with the proposed loss of the Council Information Service (CIS) from the county buildings.
The CIS was one of the services discussed at the first PDSP (policy development and scrutiny panel) this month, detailing the council's proposed 45 million cutting strategy for the next few years.
The CIS provides access to all council services and a cash collection service so customers can pay council tax, rent and rates.
But in Linlithgow, which is seen as the jewel in the crown of West Lothian's tourism industry, the loss could have even greater impact as CIS personnel staff at the Tourist Information Service from Monday to Friday deal with all telephone and face-to-face tourism enquiries.
At weekends this is carried out by Visit Scotland staff.
Local councillor Tom Conn said: "This is providing a service to visitors to the town and it needs to be retained.
"Linlithgow has been identified by the council as the heritage hub and the focus is on the Cross area with access to the Burgh Halls and the Palace. Face-to-face services are important and it seems slightly disjointed to centralise services elsewhere."
If the CIS in Linlithgow is closed, the nearest council information centre would be in Bathgate or Livingston.
A mobile registration service based in Linlithgow could also be chopped, but these proposals are to be scrutinised further.
A council spokeswoman said tourism services may operate from the Burgh .Halls when its refurbishment is complete.
She added: "The proposal is that the CIS service would still be widely available but provided in different ways from other local facilities.
"In some communities this might mean being integrated with libraries as it has successfully been at Blackburn Connected and Carmondean Connected. However, there is not a one size fits all solution and local circumstances and needs will require to be addressed."
At the meeting, the council's head of customer services, Sandra Aird, couldn't provide detailed answers to the impact the proposals would have on the public following questions from West Lothian Council Labour group leader, Councillor John McGinty, and Action To Save St John's Hospital Councillor John Cochrane.
Also unclear was which CIS offices in Armadale, Bathgate, Blackburn Connected, Strathbrock Partnership Centre, Broxburn, Fauldhouse, Linlithgow, Livingston – Carmondean Connected and West Lothian Connected in The Centre – West Calder and Whitburn, are proposed to be closed, saving 323,000 by 2014.
Cllr McGinty said: "The main concern that came out of this first meeting was the lack of detail on some of the more controversial suggestions.
"It is clear that the impact of these cuts on local communities has not been fully explored and now needs further work."
Council leader Peter Johnston said: "Final decisions aren't being made at the PDSPs and they will not be made until the new year. It is vital we tackle these huge challenges together."
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Weather for Bathgate
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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