Westminster Diary (Kenilworth) - 18th September 2005

Sunday, 18th September 2005

As summer draws to a close, it is worth asking whether we have seen enough tourists in Kenilworth. It has always seemed to me that Kenilworth could do more to make itself attractive to visitors both domestic and international.

Consider the town’s assets. The castle, Abbey Fields, high-quality town restaurants and close proximity to South Warwickshire’s twin tourist magnets of Warwick Castle and Stratford all make Kenilworth an ideal weekend destination.

So why are the town’s streets not full of tourists and the tills of its shops and cafes not full of their money?

There are, it seems to me, several things we need to do. First, we need to make Kenilworth’s shopping areas enticing for locals and tourists alike. The main thoroughfare through the town must not continue to be its least attractive aspect. A re-invigorated Talisman Square and a new civic centre on Smalley Place would improve things dramatically in this respect.

We need to attract the type of shops that visitors from the rest of Warwickshire and from the rest of the country do not have at home, giving them a reason to spend time and money in Kenilworth. A railway station in the town would make it easier for people to get here in the first place. You may have a good idea about putting Kenilworth firmly on the tourist map. If you do, I would be delighted to hear about it.

Crucially, Warwickshire has to work together on tourism. We know that millions of people visit Stratford and Warwick Castle, but how many of them include Kenilworth in their trip? Warwickshire’s better-known destinations need to help us advertise the rest of the county. We have a lot to offer. Given the recent expansion of the tourism economy, we also have a lot to gain.

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Updated on Sunday, 18th September 2005