Huntingdon First are extremely proud to announce funding secured for the opening of Huntingdon’s first Visitors Centre – Discover Huntingdon.
Huntingdon First (BID) have worked closely with Huntingdonshire District Council to secure funding from the CPCA (Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority) to deliver and open Huntingdon’s first Visitors Centre as part of the Accelerated Towns Programme this summer.
The effects of Covid on our High Streets has been immeasurable, with businesses struggling to regain traction in the world, where marketing and promotions are key to sustaining businesses. Our Discover Huntingdon Visitors Centre aims to become the central focus of the High Street, giving the town a beating heart from which we can house our promotions. A place where locals and visitors alike can source visitor information on shops, services, local attractions, walks and events alongside historic and heritage literature, town maps, guides and promotional material. A central hub that celebrates and promotes all things Huntingdon. We hope that the new Visitors Centre will act not only as a central guide for shops and services but will also act to leverage our towns legacy into visitor engagement through promoting the town as a historic destination.
Work on the centre is due to start in the coming weeks which will be located within the entrance to 39 High Street (The Commemoration Hall) the venue being a charity run heritage building on the high street, which offers the Visitors Centre the best, most cost-effective opportunity to serve the town.
Offering a host of both digital and printed guides to Huntingdon and the surrounding areas to both our local community and visitors to the town. Alongside town guides, the centre will also stock a number of new Huntingdon based products such as bags, tea towels, placemats, aprons, pens, notebooks and more. Utilising designs already on display around the town from Huntingdon First, promoting Huntingdon and some of its incredible historic buildings and notable landmarks.
Paul Sweeney, Huntingdon First Town Manager said:
“We’re thrilled to have been awarded this funding through the CPCA and the Accelerated Towns Programme and are hugely grateful to Huntingdonshire District Council for their support. The idea of a Visitor Centre was an integral part of our renewal manifesto for the town centre in 2022 and as such we are really pleased to see the project coming to life. Footfall in the town is increasing and has started to match or surpass that of pre-pandemic times which is very encouraging”.
Cllr Sam Wakeford, Executive Member for Jobs, Economy, and Housing at Huntingdonshire District Council, said:
“We want to see our town centres thriving, so we are pleased to be able to support Huntingdon First with the new visitor centre. It will play a vital role in celebrating and promoting all that can be found in Huntingdon as we look to encourage as many local residents and visitors into the town as possible so they can enjoy the many different shops and services that Huntingdon has to offer.”
BID Huntingdon First would like to thank the Regeneration Programmes Team in Huntingdonshire District Council in supporting and partnering towards the project and to the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) in securing the funding.
