INNOVATIVE plans have been drawn up to provide a new look tourist information service for Tavistock which could see so-called 'Ambassadors' helping visitors.

West Devon Borough Council is working with Tavistock Business Improvement District (BID), local businesses and organisations to develop an alternative way to provide good quality information for tourists.

In April this year, borough councillors reluctantly decided to cease funding both Tavistock and Okehampton Tourist Information Centres.

The move will help save the council around £50,000 a year and bring West Devon into line with neighbouring authorities where tourist information services are no longer run by local government.

At a workshop hosted by the borough council in June, Tavistock BID shared an exciting idea to train retailers to act as 'Ambassadors'.

They would be given special training in how to help visitors and promote all Tavistock has to offer.

Retailers would wear special badges and display window stickers to highlight them as Ambassadors.

Visitors could even use their smart phones to scan QR codes in shop windows to access online tourist information.

Cllr Robert Oxborough, the borough's community services chairman, said: 'This is an exciting and innovative approach to a challenge and I think, ultimately, it could provide a first class service for Tavistock.

'Unfortunately, we have had to make tough choices about discretionary services in order to overcome a substantial budget gap next year due to cuts in our central government grant.

'Sadly, that means funding for Tourist Information Centres is no longer available. We are pleased, however, that local businesses and organisations have joined in the discussions about alternatives.'

Lisa Wadling from Tavistock BID said: 'There is already provision for local knowledge training in the BID business plan.  With the closure of the TIC, this will now become even more important. Working with WDBC to further enhance courses we had planned can only create an even better visitor experience.'

The borough council will now work with Tavistock BID and the other partners to develop training for the Ambassadors over the next nine months.