Town booked up for gold panning week

With just under a year to go until the August 2017 Championships, which are expected to pull in thousands of competitors and spectators, the town’s accommodation is booked up between August 5 and 12. And now a plea for more accommodation providers to come forward has been issued, as well as a call for locals to open their homes to guests. Moffat Tourist Information Centre (TIC) cofounder Roy Anderton-Tyers is keen to keep visitors in the town. He said: “Frankly we are more than a little worried. We get enquiries about places to stay every day-and have been asking accommodation providers to tell us about what they offer to add to a database. “Unfortunately most have not told us, so the database that we have supplied to the organisers is less than complete. “Please can people fill in a simple form that they can collect from the TIC so that we can help them - not just for this important event - but throughout the year.” Urging people to open their homes, he added: “The organisers have asked us to appeal to non-commercial residents to ask if they can accommodate a visitor or two for that week. Again please let us know at the TIC if you would be able accommodate some of our international visitors into their homes. “This is a huge opportunity to put Moffat on the map, with spectators coming from far and wide to be fed and entertained, so the impact on food-service and accommodation providers will be immense. “We are fortunate that as well as gold in the hills, we have a fantastic infrastructure to support this important event.” Day trips and night-time entertainment are also set to be on the agenda, as well as opening and closing ceremonies. ¦ To add accommodation to the database visit the Tourist Information Centre on Moffat High Street or e-mail [email protected]. More details on the event can be found at www.moffatgold2017.com where an appeal for volunteers can also answered.