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What do you think about the announcement? Do you think the new plan by Lincoln BIG will work?

adrian
yes i think it will work if they close both tourist centres down and someone ask.s me where is the nearest info centre im sorry the council them down . but now LINCOLN BIG has them well done at least the council can.t shut that down

Mrs Susan Halsey
I am a regular visitor to Lincoln and I don't agree with the closure of the Cornhill site as it is more central to a lot of people and I feel therefore that events and places of interest would loose out if this site were to close. Could it not be staffed by volunteers rather than paid staff to save on costs?

Andy Smith, Lincoln
I have followed this story and am worried by the so called proposal by the council. I worry that they are washing their hands of the issue by passing the tourist info centres over.

Howard Newcomb
I read this from Manchester though I am a yellowbelly. I sincerely hope you Lincoln folk deliver a stinging rebuke to councilor grice come the next election.

Mary La Plant (Florida, USA)
Closing the TIC in Lincoln is extremely shortsighted in that it is THE place for tourists to find local places to stay,to eat, and to visits. Tourists bring hard currency with them that benefit local establishments. Closing these centres will not lead to savings, only losses for the local businesses. This is similar thinking to US politicians who are lazy thinkers and who always look for the easy way out. I've been to Lincoln several times and each time I have used the TIC to find local businesses to patronize. Please reconsider such a short sighted decision.

Kenneth E. Miller, Minnesota, USA
My wife and I have visited Lincoln several times and each time the TIC has been helpful. I can't believe you are so shortsighted as to remove your best link with potential and actual visitors. Please don't close the TICs, for your own sake as well as ours. Lincoln needs its TICs and so do all its visitors.

Belle Lanier {North Carolina, USA}
This is undoubtedly the most stupid idea I have ever heard. Whenever I visit a town in ANY country, the first place I look for is the Tourist Information Center. Obviously, the Councilors believe in killing the goose in hopes of finding more golden eggs. I do hope it's not too late to rescind this thoughtless action. [Although, it IS reassuring to know the USA doesn't have a monopoly on dummies....]

Janice Testa
An American, I have visited Lincoln three times. It was information given me at the Tourist Information Center on my first visit that prompted my return. Those of us who are not knowlegeable of a city, such as Lincoln, would miss a great deal if we were unable to seek out a TIC. In fact, on my third Lincoln visit, I actually stayed a bit longer than planned because I discovered more that I would like to see. It will be a sad day for overseas visitors to Lincoln when the TIC is closed.

Suzanne from USA
Were it not for the outstanding advice given by the Lincoln TIC I would have taken a look at the cathedral and been on my way. Instead, I spent a thoroughly delightful week in Lincolnshire. It was the personal touch from TIC that made all the difference. No computer could provide the same level of assistance.I am shocked that the Lincoln City Council has such little interest in tourism and its contribution to Lincoln's economy.

John Ayres-Smith
I am a former professional London Blue Badge tour guide (so I know a bit about tourism) and from 5 years ago a Lincs resident. TICs generate business from visits that might otherwise not happen. The staff at TICs are ambassadors and have vital roles to play in generating visits and indeed re-visits. It is absolutely incongruous that at the time of recession these crucial business-generating offices should be closed. If this is an example of what Councillors think is wise and prudent then we need to get more commercially-minded business people into the councils. I expect their decision to be reversed under such a weight of public criticism of a totally foolish act!

mr speed
what a utter disgrace lets all remember this when they come begging for our votes.we will always remain firmly in the shadow of the likes of chester and york

Kim Peterson
I live just outside Lincoln and have used the tourist offices quite often. Removing the friendly staff is the worst thing you can do to tourism in Lincoln. Unfortunately the 'rescue' plan by the County Council is as ridiculous as the first idea for closures. Don't you se - we don't want leaflets or touch screen - we want real people to interact with!!!

Dave the Librarian
Watching the latest Look north report really puts everything into perspective. Just as everyone is gearing up for bumper tourism in Lincolnshire - Lincoln City Council are trying to get rid of the tourism centres! The idiocy speaks for itself. I don't think I've seen a more ham-fisted or incompetant decision ever being made!!!

David Wright
I am not from Lincoln but last week I brought a boat from Saxilby through Lincoln on the Fossdyke and Witham, a journey I do every year at this time. Approaching Stamp End Lock I was amazed to see a gang of workmen actually smashing up the beautiful cast iron railings, which to me did not seem to be faulty in any way, and then erecting temporary fencing. The cost must have been huge. Still the Councillors must think they are saving money somewhere!! Then after going through the lock I encountered the worst case of detritous and pollution in a river that I have ever seen (66 y.o),continuing to Washingborough pontoon. The river bank was completely smothered with plastic bottles of all types , trolleys, pallets, wood, bags etc. I would have thought that somewhere the council would have been able to fund a cleanup, especially in connection of a piece last week regarding new facilities for Lincoln Rowing club.(I would add that I regularly act as a martial for the Lincoln-Boston rowing event)There must be huge health hazard along this portion of the river. Looking at the bottle labels alone conjures up chemical nightmares if the bottle contents were mixed and allowed to remain alongside the river.If the council are really interested in Lincoln's tourist potential they should clean up their act.

Irene
Shortsighted and disappointing. A disastrous decision to close both offices of a blossoming tourist destination. I have never been ashamed of Lincoln before - but I am now!

John, Lincoln
Hello, hello!!! Is anyone listening to the council tax payer? No I don't think so. Unfortunately the present council has shown a great lack of understanding of both tourism in Lincoln and of the people of Lincoln. As has been mentioned - we (the voters) will remember this short sightedness for Lincoln.

matthew
we need tourist info for lincoln but if they decied not to use them use the money on zebra crossing like out in branston for eaxmple they need a zebra crossing or spend the money on something decent not towards peoples benifits yeah I know some people should have benifits but not people who sit around and can not be bothered to find work and get paid £400 a week for doing nothing benifits are there for people who can't work phisicly or people who are joing the job market or have lost or been fired ect not for people that can not be bothered to work !

Doris, Lincoln
I was rather perturbed to hear that Lincoln City have decided to close it's Tourist Information Centres. Lincoln's biggest and these days it's only main asset is it's Tourism and to replace a service that is provided by professional staff with touch screens and a few leaflets is completely absurd. Please think again!

Les Woods of Lincoln(shire)
I feel that the City of Lincoln Council have wrongly judged the views of the Public who put their hard-earned money towards council decisions. A tourist region without a tourist centre is like a Council Leader without a soul!

Ryan, Lincoln
How come Councillor Darren Grice is throwing his weight about making these decisions with the people of Lincolns money??? He is in this position because of public opinion and now he needs to listen to that same opinion whilst doing his job! Do we live in a democracy or a dictatorship??? The mans gone power mad and needs stopping quick while there is still a tourism industry to save!!

James, Lincoln
Totally ridiculous. I keep on hearing Darren Grice talk about how tourists access their information in different ways - obviously the 170,000 people who came through the tourism centres in Lincoln are wrong! I am a resident of Lincoln and I use the centres to get information for visiting friends because they can't find the information on the internet!... and let's face it, information changes so quickly the council will come under critiscm for having a very out of date website.Also this idea of the County Council to put access to leaflets - some help that is going to be. We want real people to talk to face to face.I can not wait for the next elections!

William Chesterfield
What an absurd decision! And I now hear County Council has jumped in with some 'heroics'. Excuse my while I scoff. This service CANNOT be replaced simply by a telephone and internet based service. Do these short sighted councillors really expect that to cover all of the work that the lovely ladies (and gents) of the TIC's do on a day to day basis. A internet website or 'touch-screen' facility is only ever as good as the persons knowledge who updates these. I'll take a guess this shan't be done very often knowing the councils own appaling track record of keeping information up to date on it's website as it is. My main points to those councillors involved:What about the foreign visitors and residents in the city? Is the phone line going to be equipped to handle ALL languages!?What about spur of the moment visitors who wish to book accomodation and need honest, personable advice from a HUMAN BEING?What about the random un-predictable enquirys often sprung upon this service just out of visitors curiosity, questions that CANNOT be answered by an automated service.Questions that can ONLY be answered and dealt with in a FACE TO FACE manner.Councillors I urge you to GET A CLUE.

Tom Booker
I can't believe that Lincoln City Council is unable to offer a tourist information centre, they are well used not just in Lincoln but also across the country - it is always the first place I visit. DO NOT CLOSE

Peggy
It says it all really...the leader of City of Lincoln Council now thinks he is better then Visit Britain!! When are they going to listen to the people that know this industry and service area??

Lynne, Lincoln
I have just heard the leader of the City Council talking on BBC Radio Lincs, it seems he claims to know better than Visit Britain amongst others about what's best for Lincoln City's tourists. Seeing the amount of support there is NOT to close these centres, i suggest Cllr Grice listens to those who know what they are talking about!!

Dave Smith
I have travelled all over Britain and wherever I end up I will always use the Tourist Centre's for my information of what to do. You just can't beat talking to someone who you can ask questions to - they can point you towards attractions, maybe shops etc that you weren't aware a city or town had. I think Lincoln City Council are very short sighted and it shows a complete lack of understanding of a City such as Lincoln to even suggest this course of action.

Maria Scriven
I work at Leicester Tourist Information Centre and find it a real shame that a popular destination like Lincoln is closing both TICs. A TIC in any city or town is a valued service for their customers - where do they go now? Customers still like a face-to-face contact; more information is available that way and you would get to know something that you would not find on the Internet.

Frank
I was in the tourist centre near the Cathedral yesterday (14th ). It was full of people - asking staff, picking up leaflets, etc. What a crazy decision by the Council - They don't mention it of course, but do they see ££££s from letting/selling?? this site?

Chris Taylor, Lincoln
It strikes me that LCC's decision to close both of Lincoln's TICs is at best ill-conceived and at worst a gross error of judgment. Firstly, does LCC really believe that saving the cost of the 2 TICs will solve its budget deficit? It would be like my small business trying to pay of a large overdraft by buying fewer pencils. Secondly, as others are saying, it is obvious that an important historic city such as Lincoln needs a walk-in TIC. Finally, to put this into context, how would we feel if we heard that York was closing all of its TICs?. This decision will surely go onto haunt the LCC for years to come.

Jean, in Lincoln
Close the City Tourist Centre's, how very short-sighted of the City councillors - know who we won't be voting for next year!!

Bernadette Wainwright
I think it is a great shame that a city like Lincoln who attracts a large number of visitors from both this country and abroad will no longer be providing a face to face service for visitors. I think it gives a poor image to not only Lincoln but England as a whole.

Mali Boyce
How can the Council be so short sighted as to close the Lincoln Tourist Information Centres. Don't they realise that there are still a large number of people with no easy access to the internet and the first port of call is the local Tourist Information Office to obtain leaflets and personal advice. People still want personal service and the staff at the Information Centres provide an excellent and valued service, and should remain open.

Simon Harvey
I can only assume that this is a cost-cutting exercise? Perhaps the councillors would like to take a cut in their expenses? I thought not... Close the TICs, you lose tourists, which in turn leads to businesses closing and a subsequent drop in business rates. Surely the bean-counters advising the council have considered this outcome?

Sian, Lincoln
The absurdity of this dscision is unbelievable. Surely the council would be better only closing one of the TIC's, at least then tourists have somewhere to go to find where they can spend their money! Its a short term solution to a long term problem and Lincoln and its people will suffer in the long run because of narrow minded councilors. They should look at how small towns like Brigg manage to fund their TIC and take notes!

Rosalind Beevers
How does the decision to close the TICs in Lincoln compare with what other cities eg York, Chester, Exeter and Hereford are doing? No one on the Council mentioned this at the meeting on Monday.

Jemma, Lincoln
I agree with what everyone else has to say. Yes, someone may come to Lincoln because they've seen us on the tv or on the internet, but once they get here they'll need to find local tourist information to work out where they're going to spend their money. Lincoln is a lot more "user-friendly" with a face to our toursim than with just an internet site! Is there going to be an alternative? Somewhere where all the tourist info leaflets and accommodation information is kept in one place??

Ian
I think the council are missing the point, yes the internet is useful if you know how to use it to find information, but the human element of a tourist information office is invaluable when it comes to finding out what a tourist city like Lincoln has to offer. Why don't the council rehouse the centre in the Drill Hall, this could perhaps save them both from closure. A city like Lincoln needs culture to survive and prosper. It seems like the whole of Lincolnshire is facing a future of sterile towns with no facilities and all the money being pumped in to do gooder iniatives of no real value and town centres full of charity shops! The people with the power don't live in the real world. Tourist centres closingTheatres closingYouth clubs closingFacilities for young people don't exist unless you are rich enough to pay out.Even the promise of weekly bin collections wasn't delivered by this council.Still, we have the Xmas Market which has turned into a horrible event full of cheap tat and visitors being ripped off. Just remember this when the elections come around!

Jasmine, York
i live in york and to be honest i couldnt care about TIC's i've been to lincoln and i dont see why they need the uphill one, it's next to the catherdral and the castle so you wouldnt need to ask where they are! and small business? what are you on about your trade is from locals as with most small businesses in such an area i pay council tax to have my bins cleaned my streets clean and to stop crime not to keep open a TIC that costs too much and provides the same information that you can get from any hotel to keep them is really short sighted as it's in the past i dont see people use the York one! tourists go to the Yorvik centre and get information from there

Lynne Chappell
How short sighted the council are, our tourists need these information centres. I do hope this move will not deter visitors from coming to see our lovely City and Cathedral.

Katie, Lincoln
How can you have a historic city with no tourist information! I know when I go to other city's for the weekend we head straight to the tourist information to find out what we can do and whats on!

KEITH WATT
With me being from Edinburgh I am at a loss to this decision to close your offices . I find them extremely useful and friendly. Next time someone asks me where the tourist office is i'll reply" you're better off in York or Peterborough as the lincoln council don't think you touristd matter. shame on them!

Kate, Lincoln
I live in lincoln and sometimes use the info centres for heavens sake! they are really helpful and know excatly what is going on and where! not everyone has access to the internet and who wants to find an internet cafe when you are in town when you can just pop into one of these offices!! Even shopping malls have info booths/desks!! Why take ours away when tourism is what could make all the difference during the credit crunch!

Kirsty, Scothern
This is the most ridiculous decision! Tourists may see adverts for the city through other means such as the Internet but the tourist offices are vital services for those that actually visit, as well as the residents of Lincoln and the shire. They were a massive help to me personally during my A level coursework which enabled me to gain a place at Reading Uni last year. It would be a disgrace to close the tourist information offices.

Adam
Projected saving for this is 130k per year based on the fact that there will be 20k rent coming in from the letting of the cornhill site. Wishful thinking i believe, there are many empty shops already. Could we not ask seimens to sponsor our TIC's as we are shelling out millions to put pipes in for their shiny new factory out near whisby (which has nothing to do with keeping them in the city obviously.) I still cannot see how this makes any sense, someone call the logic police!

Alan Andrews
As a councillor (Parish)myself, I fully understand the need to balance the books. This however is the most ludicrous attempt at cost reduction that an historic, Catherdral City could persue. When I retired I worked for a time as a part time Guide on the much lamented Open Top Tour bus, and had a lot of contact with oue visitors from all over the world, and I'm certain a huge proportion used the Tourist Offices. Not long ago a conference on Tourism called Linolnshire tourism a sleeping giant, how can the City Council be so short sighted. Although I line just outside the City, I an Lincoln born and bred. Come on, Lincolnians, don't take this lying down!!

Irene Green
I just can't believe it. We constantly get told how important tourism is to Lincoln and it's surrounding countryside and villages. Why shut both? Why not have just one, with slightly shorter opening hours. Do none of the councillors understand how important this service is? Probably not, as they presumably don't use the service at all!

Liz, Spalding
The only Cathedral City in the country without a Tourist Information Centre! What an absolutely backward step for this fine City!

Tara, Lincoln
As a Lincoln resident I am proud of our City but am embarrased that Lincoln will not be able to offer a face to face information service. Elsewhere within the county, country and abroad you have access to this facility. It is not acceptable for the historic tourist city of Lincoln to think that we can not continue to offer our excellent tourist information service especially when it is well reported that tourism is going to boom at a local level with the strong Euro. Have the Conservative City Councillors gone mad?! What value is this to the council tax payer? Still keep 1 tourist office in the city at least.

Michael, York
This is ridiculous! Lincoln, like York, is a cathedral city with a diverse cultural history. The tourist information centres are vital for tourism to continue, without which the city will undoubtedly go downhill. If the issue is of money, then maybe its the high-paid coucilors that should be going.

coral burgess
The City Council out of order as certainly not representingthe views of the people of Lincoln and surrounding areas. The whole tourism industry for lincoln needs a boost and at this moment in time the only ones with the massive responsibility is the Tourism Office. Heads should be hung in shame!!!!!!!

Peter
So when people come to Lincoln on holiday they now have to bring their lap tops with them or spend a fortune printing information off the internet before setting off??Ridiculous!!Tourists wouldn't even find our oddly placed internet cafes without the Tourist Office to point them out so that wont help! All the attractions off the beaten track may as well shut up shop now!! Who will even find the Lincs Life museum and The Collection without a leaflet from the Tourist office to tell of their existence or directions from the TIC staff!We'll soon be providing the same level of service for our visitors as Gainsborough!! Well done Councillor Grice!!

Daisy
I am very disappointed to hear about the closures of the Tourist Information Centres in Lincoln. I am also completely lost for words. How can a tourist city such as Lincoln survive without TIC's. It is ridiculous. Having worked within the team in the past, and seen what an impact they have on the city, I cannot understand how this decision has been reached. The tourism within the City will just go down hill and visitors that do attend will not leave as happily as they do currently. A very bad move!!!

Janet, Lincoln
Surely the figures speak for themselves. People use this service in their thousands. Get rid of short sighted councillers - not the Tourist Information Centres. I know who I'll be voting next time, and it WON'T be conservative.

Tracy,Lincoln
This is a crazy decision made by ignorant and inexperienced councillors!! Its quite obvious they have no idea and city hall accountants are running the city! They obviously have no idea what matters to their voters?? They were voted in because people trusted them with "our" precious city!! Why are they not listening to public opinion? Get them out!

Bruce
Diabolical, further proof that small Councils make small decisions, or rather small Councillors make small decisions!

Ian Spence
Even living as close as Louth (26M) we always visit the Centre for information, for local information, and concerts. Other City's are always visited, some such as York offer a booking service for hotels. Perhaps LIncoln council feel their city is not as nice or as worthy as the like of York or Norwich.

Dennis Berry
One of the first thing my wife and i do is when visiting an area of interest is to find the Tourist Information centre whether it be in this country or abroad even when we go to Lincoln the capital of Lincolnshire a city we are proud of we live in Scunthorpe and are yellow bellies

Rhino
Typical narroe-minded 'bean counters'. Having used both the ofices in the past i find this decision very difficult to comprehend. Obviously the City Council don't value the residents of the City, or it's visitors that much!

Mark Hollingworth Chairman of Bailgate Guild Linco
Cllr Grice has grossly under estimated the strength of feeling on this subject and needs to re-think his ideas quickly. The Bailgate TIC is critical to the future of tourism in Lincoln and must remain. The TIC need investment and development to increase our tourism business in the future in order to compete with other Cathedral cities in the UK and Europe. Short sighted budget cuts which undermine the tourism strategy for Lincoln a well as Lincolnshire are not welcome at any time, let alone a recession!

June
Why can't the Council stop playing politics, and listen to the public.Save our TICs they are at the heart of our City and Lincolnshire tourism

Terry Skeet
In the summer months we travel to various parts of the UK. the 1st thing we do is contact the local tourist office for advice etc. and lincoln are closing the 2 offices we have, just plain crazy!!!

Adam Crane
Lincoln needs a Tourist Centre. So the 170,000 visitors who use this mean nothing? Everyplace I visit in the UK I visit a Tourism Information Centre - this is where I get my information from, not a screen (which is invariably out of date).

Jill
I was at the last two meetings and the one that saw the closures take effect. The reasons given show a lack of understanding of this city. This is a decision that Lincoln City Council's Conservative group will regret soon, I'm sure.

Yellowbelly Dan
Lincoln City council have got it so wrong! I live in Lincoln and regularly use the Castle Hill Tourist Centre for information. It's MY council tax that pays for this. I have access to a computer but the Lincoln City council site is rubbish and has information which is out of date on it.

James, Lincoln
This is ridiculous. Lincoln is a Tourist City - to get rid of the Tourism Centres is just plain suicide. What about all of the smaller attraction and small business who rely on visitors finding out about them from the Tourist Infromation centres. This is not just a nail in tourisms coffin in Lincoln but small business as well!