New visitor centre major boost for Tiverton (From Mid Devon Star)

New visitor centre major boost for Tiverton

1:28pm Thursday 25th October 2012 in Tiverton

THE Grand Western Canal’s new visitor centre will give tourism in Tiverton a major boost, a Devon county councillor says.

The visitor centre at the Canal Basin in the town will be opened to the public tomorrow (Saturday) after four years’ hard work.

Although the centre is opening tomorrow the official unveiling will be held next year once final touches to landscaping are made.

Tiverton East councillor Des Hannon said the visitor centre is one of a number of projects that make Tiverton an ideal day out for visitors.

He said: “Tourism is good in Tiverton anyway but the visitor centre will be the canal’s main focus and will help to make Tiverton a really good day out for people.

“There are already talks to signpost people from the town to the visitor centre and after all the work that has been put in over the past five to ten years the canal is looking the best it ever has.

“I would just urge people to go and visit|it while it is open for a limited period|and while it is quiet because the heritage behind the canal has been around for 200 years and there is some good information in there.”

Most of the money for the centre came from the sale of Exeter Airport in 2007 and Mr Hannon said chunks of these funds are being reinvested in Tiverton through projects like this.

Inside the centre, Devon Wildlife Enterprises has developed educational displays. Stunning panels covering almost all of the wall space and incorporate a high-tech interactive touchscreen display with information, film and photographs celebrating the canal’s history and wildlife.

Local people have given some older photos of the canal to the visitor centre following an appeal earlier in the year.