‘Rising Star’ high street prize will help Thame tourism

FOLLOWING Thame’s ‘Rising Star’ accolade in the ‘Great British High Street’ Awards recently, the Thame4Business working group met recently to decide where to use the £1,000 prize money to benefit the town centre.

Neil Dudgeon, who plays Insp Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, with the ‘Causton’ locations map that includes Thame

The favourite suggestions up for discussion were:

1. An interactive AV touch screen ‘What’s happening in Thame’ device outside Town Hall

Although something that would cost more than £1k, it was thought worth progressing, especially as it could be a project that the district council might look favourably on as it would contribute to helping visitors and tourists to find information 24/7, particularly when the TIC was closed in the evenings and at the weekend. Team member, Helen Johns explained: “Because it will take time to get this moving, we didn’t choose this as our recipient. I am, however, investigating the technology / software with Box Technologies (at the suggestion of Sylo Associates who put forward this suggestion) to arrive at a ball park estimate, and then submit the idea to SODC for grant funding.”

2. Pop-up wine bar or restaurant

This is also being explored, looking at empty premises or ‘shared use’ of café space which could become a wine bar at night time. Because the finance on this looked complicated and possibly long drawn-out to achieve the objective, this project wasn’t chosen either for this particular spend.

3. Midsomer red plaques and a workshop to kickstart Midsomer promotion in Thame

The team felt that the Midsomer Murders plaques was the choice that would be least complex to put into action, most visible in terms of red plaques, and would generate PR and news coverage too, and at the same time generate footfall and income for the town. It was proposed that £500 go into red plaques (about £50 per each of 11 identified venues, to incentivise them to make up the balance to £125, and £500 to go towards the Thame workshop.

An excited Helen added: “We’d like to progress this ASAP. The timing is good as we are just coming into the main tourist season. To get this moving will hopefully achieve interest as well as spend in Thame over the summer months.”

Any businesses interested in sponsoring a red plaque, can contact Helen via helen.johns39@gmail.com for more information.

Visit Midsomer website: http://www.visitmidsomer.com/

The Thame connection http://www.visitmidsomer.com/midsomer-market-towns/