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A Better Welcome for Southam
Southam was one of 28 market towns in the West Midlands region to receive a £25,000 grant as part of a £1 million “Better Welcome” campaign to improve the town’s tourism appeal, funded by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.
Phil Roberts, partnerships director at Advantage West Midlands, said: “Developing and investing in our market towns is absolutely essential for the development of our region. Market towns are vital hubs and provide crucial services for the communities they serve.”
“The Better Welcome programme is assisting many towns by making their tourism offer even better, perhaps by uncovering ‘hidden gems’ that tourists might not otherwise find.”
Background research for the Better Welcome programme started in summer 2007, with a specialist audit of Southam’s tourism assets, including a visitor survey of around 150 people, to understand Southam’s strengths and weaknesses.
A Better Welcome Action Plan was developed – and the £25,000 grant from Advantage West Midlands enabled projects to take place that addressed the aims of the action plan.
Southam residents and representatives from local interest groups have played an active role in the successful delivery of the Southam Better Welcome project; working in partnership with Stratford District Council and Action West Midlands the following projects have been delivered:
Candi TV
This new project, supported by Shakespeare Country and Stratford District Council provides an easy, up to date, centrally located screen (located at Southam Library) which displays different aspects of visitor information such as local events, accommodation and community groups.
Fingerposts
Fingerposts, finished in the town centre’s Holly Green paint, located on public highways.
Interpretive Panels
These panels contain clear text detailing the history of feature buildings in the town (see photos opposite/below)
Healthy Walking Trail and Commemorative Trina Benches with accompanying trail leaflets
The healthy walk is dedicated to local girl, Trina Gulliver, and her achievements in World Darts. Trina is the seven times Women’s World Darts Champion of the British Darts Organisation – (however, since completing this project Trina has won another World Championship and so now has eight World titles to her name!!)
Seven benches to represent the seven times Trina has won the World Darts Championship are located around Southam, a trail map and bench markers guide walkers around the route.
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