On Wednesday 7th July 2004, Danny Howell called in at the Warminster Tourist Information Centre, at the southern end of the town’s Central Car Park, to get the low-down on its varied activities. This is his report:
“Warminster is well on target, so far this season, to match last year’s number of visitors to the area,” says Sheilagh Hardy, the esteemed Manager of the Warminster Tourist Information Centre.
During April, May and June, 2004, over 6,000 people have been through the doors, and they are split equally between overseas’ visitors and those who have travelled from various parts of the United Kingdom.
“During the last financial year (April 2003 to March 2004) there were 22,500 pairs of feet through here,” said Sheilagh. “We’ve been very busy this season, especially on hot sunny days, but there have been one or two wet and windy days just lately when the place has been absolutely dead. People now are forward planning though, which they didn’t do before, and the change is because of internet access. It has made a difference.”
The number of visitors to Warminster tails off during the winter months, but the TIC is kept as busy with the sale of Christmas cards on behalf of charities.
Sheilagh, an Australian, has been at the helm of the Tourist Information Centre in Warminster since 1988. In those days it was housed inside the town’s Library, but moved to its current premises in March 1990. The dark-red brick building was originally occupied by the Tourist Information Office and the Citizens Advice Bureau, and was officially opened by HRH Princess Anne.
Ms. Hardy has charge of a dedicated team of 17 volunteers, three of whom serve as Assistant Managers. Sheilagh is the only one who is fully paid. Together, the team present a smooth operation, not only being helpful to tourists who want to come to the area, but also supplying them with information about places to see and things to do during their vacation leisure time.
Whilst staying locals in hotels and bed and breakfast, most tourists visit Longleat and National Trust properties, as well as strolling around open gardens and enjoying themselves at theatres and museums in Bath and Salisbury.
The TIC earns a commission on ticket sales for the big commercial events including the Bath & West Show, the Great Dorset Steam Fair, and the Truck Fest, but sells tickets commission-free for shows and concerts staged by local organisations, such as the Athenaeum Singers. “We are more than happy to sell local tickets in this way,” said Sheilagh.
Answering the phone at Warminster TIC is often something of a challenge for the volunteers. One of the more unusual enquiries they handled was from a man, phoning from outside the Warminster area, who wanted to know the times of the buses in Portugal. Sheilagh said “We don’t keep Portuguese bus timetables, so we couldn’t tell him directly, but we were able to help by giving him the phone number of the Portuguese Embassy in London. They assisted him.”
Sheilagh is keen to emphasise that the information service is available not only to tourists but also for local people. “If only they would use it more. There are still Warminster residents who don’t know we’re here, but we can do quite a lot for them. We stock the local bus and train timetables and we sell stamps. We also keep a What’s On Diary for clubs and event organisers to list their activities and entertainments.”
Certainly used by the locals, though, is the facility for booking National Express coach tickets, and also day trips laid on by Chandler’s. Moreton-In-Marsh, Stow On The World, Chessington World Of Adventure, and the Dorset coast are regular destinations with Chandler’s. Excursions to Buckingham Palace are a big success and are usually fully booked well in advance. Mystery trips are very popular with the elderly in Warminster too.
Warminster Tourist Information Centre is open Monday to Saturday, 9.30 to 5.30 during the summer months, and 9.30 to 4.30 during the winter.
For all enquiries telephone 01985 218548.