Volunteers plan to create centre for walkers (From The Northern Echo)

Volunteers plan to create centre for walkers

2:45pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News By Stuart Minting

A GROUP of volunteers dedicated to improving residents and visitors’ experiences in an area between two national parks has won support for a scheme to create a hub for walkers.

Thirsk Tourist Information centre has received backing from more than 100 residents, rambling groups, Thirsk Rotary Club and the town council to create a pool of information about walking opportunities and extend services for hikers.

The centre has also had assurances from Hambleton District Council that it would be given help with building infrastructure, such as new signs, for the walking hub.

Co-director of the centre, Jo Caramello, said the initiative would have a wide range of benefits, including boosting the local economy, encouraging the use of public transport and improving health in the area.

She told a meeting of Thirsk Town Council: “We get an awful lot of walkers coming to the Tourist Information Centre and it is quite clear while there is quite a lot going on in the area, it hasn’t been joined up.

“We are very aware local people need to know where people can walk with a pushchair or a wheelchair."

The volunteers will initially seek accreditation with the Walkers Are Welcome UK Network, an online group of more than 100 towns and villages, including Richmond, Knaresborough, and Boroughbridge, seeking to attract more hikers to their areas.

The network has been backed by TV presenter Julia Bradbury, who described it as “a truly innovative project”.

Ms Caramello said the centre would encourage traders in the town to place a Walkers Are Welcome sign in their shops and organising walks to enable it to invite people for hiking events with transport laid on.

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