Northumberland County Council’s cabinet has today (12 October) approved £220,000 of funding to improve visitor infrastructure in the small town of Wooler. 
 

The rural town is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, acting as an important gateway to the Northumberland National Park, with Wooler Common, College Valley and Ingram Valley in the eastern Cheviots all within easy reach.  

With the opening of the Ad Gefrin Distillery visitor centre and distillery imminent, visitor numbers are set to increase further. 

Following extensive feasibility and costing work, a range of physical improvements to the town have been agreed. 

The funding will be used to completely refurbish and upgrade the public toilets at the bus station and include the provision of new dedicated baby changing facility. 

A temporary long stay car park will also be created at the site of the former Wooler First School to act as an overflow car park close to the town centre at peak times. 

The work will involve the demolition of the school buildings and ‘stoning up’ the area. It is proposed the temporary car park will be in place for at least a year to see how well it is used. Once this additional long stay parking capacity is available, consideration will also be given to amending the arrangements at the Padgepool Car Park to make it a 3- or 4-hour maximum stay to help increase turnover of parking spaces in the town centre for those wanting to visit the local shops and services. 
 

The Northeast Ambulance Service will also be relocated to the fire station site through the provision of a new double garage and internal alterations to the fire station building.  This will free up some parking spaces and consolidate the emergency services in the town into a shared location.  

Northumberland County Councillor, John Riddle, cabinet member with responsibility for local services said: “We're seeing a steady rise in visitor numbers to this beautiful town and with the opening of the Ad Gefrin visitor centre next year that number is set to increase. 

“In order to support local businesses and jobs we want visitors to spend time in the town, to enjoy themselves and to leave with a positive lasting impression, so that they will return. Having adequate car parking and clean and modern public conveniences is fundamental to the visitor experience.” 

Local ward councillor Mark Mather said: 

“Tourism is really important to Wooler as it helps to protect and create jobs and boosts the local economy - which is never more important than in these uncertain financial times. 

“For the sake of the local community it is also very important that we can manage the growing number of tourists to the town, by providing adequate parking for local residents and tourists. 

“I am confident these new infrastructure plans have been well researched and will protect the beauty and unique character of the town, while meeting the needs of both local residents and visitors.”  

A proposal to provide a country car park at the Ad Gefrin archaeological site is still being explored by the County Council and the National Park Authority. This would be subject to a detailed pre-application planning process and will be considered by councillors in due course.