Bournemouth plans for new signs and maps for visitors (From Thisisdorset)
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Bournemouth plans for new signs and maps for visitors
9:00am Sunday 27th May 2012 in News By Steven Smith
Signs for Westover Road and the Pavilion Theatre car park in Bournemouth
BOURNEMOUTH is selling itself short in welcoming visitors, a meeting was told.
Businesspeople, councillors and members of the town’s hospitality industry have been updated on plans to overhaul Bournemouth’s way-finding system – including signs and maps.
Briefings held at the BIC updated plans to improve the way in which people get around the town.
The issue is being looked at by contractor Applied, which is putting forward ideas for an integrated system to simplify how people are guided around town.
The firm has revamped towns and cities across the UK, including Brighton, Ipswich, Glasgow and London.
Richard Simon, from Applied, said the aim was to increase the quality of visitor experience and inform people better about tourism, leisure, retail and business facilities.
He said tourism added £426million to the area’s economy each year.
“We found 11 or 12 different systems that people had to understand and that causes problems for people,” he said.
“We came in to think about how this can be joined up into a single system.
“If they have that, they understand the town better and if that happens you can optimise their experience,” said Richard.
Recommendations include creating a welcome – with Bournemouth railway station cited as an example of the town’s lack of greeting.
A simple colour-coded map – available in print, online and on smartphones – would be created and pedestrians would benefit from a route network and new signage.
Vehicle signs, particularly directing people to car parks, would be made simpler.
Designs will be drawn up this summer before being presented in the autumn.
Mark Smith, Bournemouth director of tourism, said: “We want people to find that the experience here is so good that they don’t just want to come back, but tell other people aswell.
“This is about a joined-up exercise that takes in everybody’s interests.”
Mr Smith said delivery of the signs and map would happen over the next five years – with financial constraints the main reason for them being phased in.
He added: “We’re selling ourselves short in this town and we need to get moving on getting it right and making it better.”
Comments(42)
Old Colonial
says...
9:37am Sun 27 May 12
Mark, that is the job you are paid for. Does it take expensive external input to tell you how to perform your duties?
Baywolf
says...
9:48am Sun 27 May 12
a.g.o.g.
says...
9:53am Sun 27 May 12
Old Colonial wrote:Obviously!
Mark Smith, Bournemouth director of tourism, said: “We’re selling ourselves short in this town and we need to get moving on getting it right and making it better.” Mark, that is the job you are paid for. Does it take expensive external input to tell you how to perform your duties?
ianexams
says...
10:13am Sun 27 May 12
Dave2207
says...
10:29am Sun 27 May 12
wonderway
says...
10:42am Sun 27 May 12
Capricorn 1
says...
10:54am Sun 27 May 12
FAT TONE
says...
10:56am Sun 27 May 12
Maybe a road from Poole to Bournemouth would be a good start.
mysticalshoelace
says...
11:09am Sun 27 May 12
muscliffman
says...
11:20am Sun 27 May 12
We now seem to have a Town Hall full of highly paid Officers who have to pass their responsibilities on to private companys - at our expense of course.
Probably because we unwittingly employ people who are happy to take our generous money but cannot actually do the job.
There is plenty of evidence in Boscombe of this and on the A338 for that matter - 'Surf Reef' this way. How difficult is it to arrange to have these humiliating signs taken down? Not sure? Hire an outside firm then.......
Teddy 1
says...
11:25am Sun 27 May 12
twynham
says...
11:29am Sun 27 May 12
Upkeep
says...
11:39am Sun 27 May 12
I`ll walk, hang on, which way? Ok, I`ll walk past the taxi drivers with their smoking and foreign languages they like to argue in! Mmm first impressions are not too good! Oh which way now? I know, it looks like I`ve got to walk through ASDA`s underground car-park. Why are all those people asleep under here? Is there a lot of homelessness in Bournemouth? I doubt it, Bournemouth looked so good in the brochure.
Perhaps I should have got a Taxi, but the drivers only seemed interested in smoking and arguing amongst each other. I doubt if some of them would have understood where I wanted to go anyway!
Well that’s it then, the Bus. The trouble is I instinctively went to the bus Station and the Buses there only went to suburbs of Bournemouth. I`m getting fed up now! Where do I get a bloody bus from? Ah there`s the Bus stop. No wonder I couldn`t find it, its tucked round the corner!
And that was just the start of the visit to Bournemouth. Tune in next week when I tell you all about the evening I sampled Bournemouth`s famous nightlife!!
Western Sunset
says...
11:40am Sun 27 May 12
I love the way that consultants come in and state the b-------obvious. Signage is to inform and direct; I think we all realise that.
Banish the consultants and use the resources to set up a group of no more than five Council Officers to come up with a plan by this autumn so that new signage can be in place for next spring. The Council has many talented members of staff who are quite able to do this task if they're given the opportunity.
Five years? Someone's having a laugh.....
That'll be much too late.
High Treason
says...
12:05pm Sun 27 May 12
tbpoole
says...
12:12pm Sun 27 May 12
mysticalshoelace wrote:Why don't you apply to provide the advice then, you've obviously got common sense to spare?Except that no-one can agree who has the best 'common sense' on these occassions.
What a waste of tax payers money! It doesn't need a specialist company to do this just someone with a fraction of common sense - something our council is obviously lacking if it feels the need to consult with an outside company.
Old Colonial
says...
12:15pm Sun 27 May 12
Western Sunset wrote:"...many talented members of staff...", yes! But, in the main, the people who get into these highly paid positions of authority and decision making are not among them!
I don't often agree with many of the comments on these message boards, but in this instance there is little to disagree on.
I love the way that consultants come in and state the b-------obvious. Signage is to inform and direct; I think we all realise that.
Banish the consultants and use the resources to set up a group of no more than five Council Officers to come up with a plan by this autumn so that new signage can be in place for next spring. The Council has many talented members of staff who are quite able to do this task if they're given the opportunity.
Five years? Someone's having a laugh.....
That'll be much too late.
And they singularly refuse to accept that anyone lower than them in the pecking order has anything worth listening to, no matter how experienced or full of constructive ideas.
They will only take note of those paid more than them, ie. consultants. Money talks and must be listened to.
Western Sunset
says...
12:42pm Sun 27 May 12
Anyway, back to the signs....
The picture heading this feature illustrates what's wrong with Bournemouth's signage. It's there for all to see - they're not clear and concise.
They give misleading messages / conflicting information. Can I only park here if I'm shopping in Westover Road? We know the answer, but would a visitor.
The town needs to overhaul its signs fast because (and here I agree with the consultants) tourism is vital and we're just underachieving.
But we don't need more signs. Please no; there's already too much street clutter. Just better signage within a clear overall strategy.
jobsworthwatch
says...
12:44pm Sun 27 May 12
wonderway
says...
12:49pm Sun 27 May 12
spooki
says...
1:01pm Sun 27 May 12
Upkeep wrote:Brilliant! And what about 'Bournemouth' airport? Even their address says its in Christchurch.
You arrive at the Railway Station. You leave the station through the booking hall. Outside now. I want to go to the Town Centre and Beach, well that`s what most visitors want to do. What do I do ? Walk, Taxi, Bus, Monorail…?
I`ll walk, hang on, which way? Ok, I`ll walk past the taxi drivers with their smoking and foreign languages they like to argue in! Mmm first impressions are not too good! Oh which way now? I know, it looks like I`ve got to walk through ASDA`s underground car-park. Why are all those people asleep under here? Is there a lot of homelessness in Bournemouth? I doubt it, Bournemouth looked so good in the brochure.
Perhaps I should have got a Taxi, but the drivers only seemed interested in smoking and arguing amongst each other. I doubt if some of them would have understood where I wanted to go anyway!
Well that’s it then, the Bus. The trouble is I instinctively went to the bus Station and the Buses there only went to suburbs of Bournemouth. I`m getting fed up now! Where do I get a bloody bus from? Ah there`s the Bus stop. No wonder I couldn`t find it, its tucked round the corner!
And that was just the start of the visit to Bournemouth. Tune in next week when I tell you all about the evening I sampled Bournemouth`s famous nightlife!!
High Treason
says...
1:30pm Sun 27 May 12
spooki wrote:"And what about 'Bournemouth' airport? Even their address says its in Christchurch."
Upkeep wrote:Brilliant! And what about 'Bournemouth' airport? Even their address says its in Christchurch.
You arrive at the Railway Station. You leave the station through the booking hall. Outside now. I want to go to the Town Centre and Beach, well that`s what most visitors want to do. What do I do ? Walk, Taxi, Bus, Monorail…?
I`ll walk, hang on, which way? Ok, I`ll walk past the taxi drivers with their smoking and foreign languages they like to argue in! Mmm first impressions are not too good! Oh which way now? I know, it looks like I`ve got to walk through ASDA`s underground car-park. Why are all those people asleep under here? Is there a lot of homelessness in Bournemouth? I doubt it, Bournemouth looked so good in the brochure.
Perhaps I should have got a Taxi, but the drivers only seemed interested in smoking and arguing amongst each other. I doubt if some of them would have understood where I wanted to go anyway!
Well that’s it then, the Bus. The trouble is I instinctively went to the bus Station and the Buses there only went to suburbs of Bournemouth. I`m getting fed up now! Where do I get a bloody bus from? Ah there`s the Bus stop. No wonder I couldn`t find it, its tucked round the corner!
And that was just the start of the visit to Bournemouth. Tune in next week when I tell you all about the evening I sampled Bournemouth`s famous nightlife!!
Now now, we all know it sounds really grand to call it Bournemouth International Airport. Just as Bournemouth International Centre. Its all down to image despite there is nothing international about either. The council runs on spin and bull.
madras
says...
2:19pm Sun 27 May 12
oneshortleg
says...
2:45pm Sun 27 May 12
oneshortleg
says...
2:48pm Sun 27 May 12
ShuttleX
says...
3:24pm Sun 27 May 12
wonderway wrote:"Mr smith needs to get out of his post and someone with enthusiasm, drive and better organisation to replace him."
this matter was brought up 4 years ago at chamber meeting they were told then that the matter was in hand so how many consultants has council paid to do this job. Mr smith needs to get out of his post and someone with enthusiasm, drive and better organisation to replace him.
Nice idea @wonderway, but it isn't going to happen. As with a lot of things in Bournemouth Council, it's not what you know, but who you know. There is a very good reason why Mr Smith won't be sacked, regardless of how incompetent he is.
The Renegade Master
says...
5:11pm Sun 27 May 12
"Wind your window up, filthy stinking sewage works ahead"
Seriously though, when are Wessex Water going to be made to do something about the appalling stench emanating from that site? It's hardly the best welcome to the town is it?
BmthNewshound
says...
5:46pm Sun 27 May 12
l take more than a few poxy signs to attain that objective.
.
More like they've heard on the grapevine what a push over Bournemouth Council are and how they'd hand over £m's and expect little in return.
.
So Applied will join ASR and Mouchel in fleecing our incompetent council.
.
An aside, but interesting observation .... why are their still signs directing people to Boscombe Surf Reef ?.... Answers on a postcard and sent to Mark Smith c/o Town Hall
Huey
says...
6:04pm Sun 27 May 12
snowflake 2
says...
6:49pm Sun 27 May 12
come on Bournemouth sort your selves out. Feed up!
ifordcherry
says...
8:46pm Sun 27 May 12
Phixer
says...
10:13pm Sun 27 May 12
Old Colonial wrote:No wonder why our Council tax is so high!
Mark Smith, Bournemouth director of tourism, said: “We’re selling ourselves short in this town and we need to get moving on getting it right and making it better.”
Mark, that is the job you are paid for. Does it take expensive external input to tell you how to perform your duties?
No doubt there are other useless public servants who use our money to pay consultants.
JemTNott
says...
11:45pm Sun 27 May 12
tomtom909
says...
7:26am Mon 28 May 12
eaststandman
says...
7:35am Mon 28 May 12
Well Bournemouth, YOU ALREADY HAVE !!!
Its full of drunks, knifecrimes, drugs, immigrants and...........
it stinks............
jobsworthwatch
says...
8:15am Mon 28 May 12
a.g.o.g.
says...
9:10am Mon 28 May 12
Mamma Troll
says...
10:38am Mon 28 May 12
bmthgrouch
says...
4:26pm Mon 28 May 12
Not to mention the lamp posts that are bowing in the middle, leaning to one side, peeling paint, unfinished painting, faded, worn, rusting street furniture and signs everywhere you look.
snowflake 2
says...
10:38am Tue 29 May 12
jobsworthwatch wrote:They tried that in the war!
Thought the national trend was to do away signage?
O'Reilly
says...
11:23am Tue 29 May 12
a.g.o.g. says...
9:24am Sun 27 May 12