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Fresh Air

Summer Visitor Questionnaire I Actors/Beneficiaries Meeting I Conference I Gateway Signs I Foot and Mouth I Farndon Boardwalk

This newsletter can also be viewed as a separate document - Page 1 I Page 2

Last September we carried out a survey of visitors to Chester and, for the first time, the rural area. The rural locations chosen were West Kirby, Parkgate, Farndon and Malpas so that we had a good representation from the whole of the Dee Estuary Partnership area.

The aim was to find out what people thought of Chester and the surrounding countryside. This would build on existing knowledge and add important insights into which visitors can be tempted to visit the rural area through better promotion and the creation of new facilities with benefits for residents too.

Some of the results were not surprising, Chester receives many more visitors that the rural area. It also has a far more clearly defined sense of local distinctiveness, its heritage.

The top answer for the rural area was unique, followed by pleasant, relaxing and middle class yet these are not distinctive or unique. We need to identify those things in our rural area that are special.

The things people would like to do in the countryside weren’t a great surprise; walking, visiting pubs, hotels and restaurants, attractions and the seaside, as well as country crafts and shops. Unfortunately, for a project encouraging sustainable tourism, driving in the countryside was also a popular activity. So much so that transport to the countryside was not thought a problem by most visitors.

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Actors/Beneficiaries Meeting

The December meeting of interest groups and organisations was very successful with representatives from a wide range of interest groups joining us for the evening. Councillor Bob Rudd made an introductory speech that was followed by presentations describing the project and highlighting some of the findings of the summer questionnaire. Everyone had the opportunity to express their views on the project and how it should develop.

The discussion groups were very successful in identifying a wide range of issues, relating directly and indirectly to tourism and the rural economy. It is clear that many of the problems encountered by potential visitors are shared by those who live and work in the countryside and that improvements to services and facilities for tourism will have shared benefits for residents. The groups identified five areas of concern but there is a great deal of overlap between them and this does serve to highlight the complex nature of these issues.

There was a clear understanding of the potential benefits and conflicts between visitors to the countryside and its residents. The need for good planning and design of projects is very important so that any kind of development is to the benefit of all.

The current importance of the car for access to the countryside was widely recognised. The existing level of public transport would need to change it we are to encourage a shift from dependence on the car.

The development of ICT for all parts of the community was seen as an important means of overcoming the isolation of many rural areas from goods and services.

Access to shopping facilities is important for residents and visitors but rural shops suffer because they cannot carry the diversity of goods available in supermarkets and urban shopping areas. Bringing this diversity would have benefits for rural businesses and communities but how this could be achieved is a challenge.

There is a rich and diverse rural heritage in the area. We need to identify our markets and promote the rural environment.

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Sustainable Tourism Planning Conference

In February we held a conference in Chester Town Hall to discuss the Regional Environmental Sustainable Tourism Plan (RESTP). This was attended by representatives from our partners in Greece and Italy as well as from our local area. There were also people from national organisations with an interest in sustainable tourism. This was an important milestone in the project as it gave us the chance to discover expert views of the RESTP guidelines. The guidelines stood up well to this scrutiny.

At the end of a very successful day representatives from the three international regions signed an accord to support the aims of Ecosert.

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Gateway Signs

Work has begun on the installation of the Dee Estuary Gateway Signs at key points around the Dee. The first has already been installed at Parkgate Old Baths picnic area. This is well known amongst birdwatchers as the location for the spring and autumn High Tide Birdwatches and a popular place to start a walk along the estuary. The signs have been produced by the Dee Estuary Project.

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Foot and Mouth

The Foot and Mouth outbreak has been difficult for everyone who lives or works in the countryside. Unfortunately ecosert has been no exception. We have had to put much of the fieldwork on hold, but we have been able to carry on with other parts of the project. Whilst there will be some delays we are hopeful that this will only be in the short term and that the time lost will be made up so that we will finish on time next year.

The outbreak and its effects has also shown the importance of the link between tourism and the rural economy. This is a link that can only become stronger and shows the significance of strategic planning for the future.

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Farndon Parish Council has been working closely with Chester City Council to fill a missing link in a popular walk around the village. A boardwalk will join two public rights of way along a permissive path across a field belonging to the Trevor-Barnston Estate.

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) have already started the work and will be bringing volunteers from all over the country to spend a week on holiday in Cheshire and do something for the environment. In the winter the ground is so wet and uneven that it is difficult to walk here, but once the boardwalk is complete then it will be easy for people of all abilities.

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