Exclusive by Chrissy Symmons
A mammoth £85,000 project to encourage more visitors to Ellesmere will see the town pilot the first tourist information mobile phone scheme in the country.
Under the Ellesmere Vision scheme, different areas of the town including the Wharf, the Mere and the British Waterways Heritage Centre will be linked up by signs and Britain’s first text messaging information service.
A new annual event will take place to lure artists and tourists into the town and the Wharf piazza will hold seasonal markets and performances.
Representatives of the town are due to meet soon to thrash out the finer details.
As part of the plans, visitors will find special codes on information signs around the town to text and receive information concerning, for example, the history of the area and other places to visit. A minimal charge would be paid for this service.
Two sculptures will also be reintroduced to the Mere after a tour around Spain and will be given a permanent place. There will also be plinths for temporary statues during the town’s various events.
Visitors will also be able to take part in other interactive activities around the town, including areas for visitors to take part in brass rubbings, and big silhouette signs indicating special places of interest.
The project will be funded by the Market Town’s Initiative, Advantage West Midlands, North Shropshire District Council and money as part of a section 106 agreement with the Wharf Development site.
The work is due to start mid-summer but a finish date has not yet been decided.
Geoff Elner, the town’s mayor, said: “It’s a good idea for Ellesmere and we will support it in any way we can. It is an exciting time and culture is the name of the game.”
Lincoln McMullan, from Ellesmere Chamber of Commerce, agreed that it was good to attract more tourists to the town.
“It’s excellent news that the mobile phone pilot is the first in the country,” he added.
Rian Huxley, a spokesperson for NSDC, said: “Work is starting on Ellesmere interpretation already and a group are talking about it. It is estimated to cost around £85,000 and we hope it will bring more tourists to Ellesmere and we are working in partnership to see the project come to fruition.”
