A DISTRICT councillor has declared Ivybridge Town Council's behaviour 'embarrassing' – for failing to promote the town.

Cllr Tony Barber criticised the council for failing to send a representative to speak at a recent 'Tourism Focus' meeting of the South Hams Business Forum.

Cllr Barber attended the meeting as chairman of the economy and environment scrut-iny panel rather, than specifically as an Ivybridge member.

He said: 'I found the non-attendance of anyone from the Ivybridge Town Council's Town Information Centre embarrassing.

'Representatives of tourist information centres at Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Totnes and Salcombe all talked about the work of their centres, their funding, focus and staffing.

'The Town Council, who run the Town Information Centre at the Watermark, were expected to be represented by their business manager or other representative at the forum to talk about their work in Ivybridge.'

He added: 'Although the Ivybridge centre was clearly not on the same scale as those of the coastal towns, the forum was an ideal opportunity for networking, for picking up ideas on staffing and funding – including the use of volunteers – and for raising awareness of the town`s offer – for example its proximity to Dartmoor among other South Hams towns.

'If the business manager was unable to attend then surely someone, either officer or councillor could have attended.'

Cllr Barber said it was anticipated the Ivybridge Chamber of Commerce and town council were the right organisations to carry on promoting the town following the disbandment of the Town Team.

He said: 'The Cham-ber were developing ideas, some of which, such as the town crier, were already coming to fruition, but it seemed the town council, certainly on the evidence of their absence at the forum, were seemingly not supporting them.'

Lesley Hughes, Ivybridge town clerk, said: 'Unfortunately the event was only drawn to my attention via a South Hams Council news release sent through to the chamber and ourselves by district councillor Mike Saltern six days before the event.

'This clashed with a parks meeting which was in the town council annual calendar of meetings, which I needed to attend. In fact, when Cllr Stephen Fourte was alerted to the meeting he was keen to attend, despite short notice, but again was on the parks committee.

'Our business manager had been separately invited along and tried to respond positively by offering to do a presentation but had a last minute emergency to deal with at The Watermark, which couldn't be helped.

'We continue to offer tourist information from the Watermark and are once again putting together the accommodation guide, but we do rely hugely on those located outside the town to provide any visitor accommodation. 

'Unlike Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, to whom Cllr Barber referred, they have a myriad of tourist businesses to support their TICs. We certainly wouldn't currently be considered to be a tourist town, which is why, through the Town Team and now as part of the Neighbourhood Plan, we are seeking the provision of hotel accommodation, ideally on the mill site and/or Leisure Centre complex in the town. 

'The retail and leisure strategy commissioned by the Town Team and South Hams Council also identified deficiencies in provision which are being considered as part of the Neighbourhood Plan.

'The Town Team was keen to provide a marketing and promotion role and develop the events programme for Ivybridge, but this is not something the town council can fund and by working with Cllr Mike Saltern we are trying to identify someone, using the remaining Tesco 106 money, to take this on. 

'With the new owners at Glanvilles Mill just finding their feet we need to continue to work with them too in order to create more activities and events.

'I have made contact with the Greater Dartmoor funding project to see if tourism related activities could attract financial support but, seemingly, it would need some work to develop ideas like the Dandy Roll Walk, proposed by the Ivybridge Museums and Archive Group. 

'This type of project could receive funding but it has to create jobs, and be improving the economy to qualify.

Cllr Fourte said: 'I am a little surprised with the comment that the town council do not seem willing to work with the chamber, as I have attended all of the chamber meetings this year and at the end of last year, and I believe I am starting to build a good relationship with the members of the chamber. 

'I strongly believe that close working between the chamber, the town council and South Hams Council is vital in promoting Ivybridge the best we can for the good of all within the town.'