Witney News - Combining customer services

Combining customer services

Refurbishment work to combine the Visitor Information Centre in Witney with the Council's Town Centre Shop is now underway.

The Visitor Information Centre, currently located at 26A High Street, will move to the Council's Town Centre Shop on Welch Way from 25th June 2007.

Careful planning has gone into ensuring both the Visitor Information Centre and Town Centre Shop will still be able deliver their full range of services from a joint location. All the refurbishment work at the Town Centre Shop will take place outside opening hours to avoid any disruption to customers.

Cllr Hilary Biles, Cabinet Member with responsibility for tourism said, "Combining these services is a significant step towards providing a true one-stop-shop. As a high proportion of residents already use the Visitor Information Centre, it avoids activities being duplicated. Furthermore it is an excellent location, and will be even more so in future years when the Marriotts Close development is completed."

Nearly 100,000 visit both the Town Centre Shop and Visitor Information Centre each year.

The Town Centre Shop provides information, assistance and payment facilities on a range of services including housing and council tax benefit, concessionary travel, waste and recycling collections. It also houses a call centre answering all calls to the council's main switchboard number and many other dedicated lines.

Both local people and visitors use the Visitor Information Centre's services which include accommodation booking, events listings, Cotswolds area information, theatre and coach ticket sales, souvenirs, map and guides.

The move provides the opportunity for the Council to make efficiency savings, whilst at the same time providing a more comprehensive customer service. This decision to move coincides with the end of the Visitor Information Centre's current lease for its premises at 26A High Street, Witney.