Kenilworth council approves a £140,000 AR initiative for Abbey Fields
The town council has strongly supported an initiative that could allow tourists to view historical photos of Kenilworth on their smartphones.
The Abbey Fields Augmented Reality (AFAR) project, introduced by the Kenilworth Town Council, aims to develop an application enabling users to hold up their smartphones at different locations in Abbey Fields and see the abbey in its historical prime. This application is designed to narrate the abbey’s story and connect it to the castle, thereby encouraging the visiting of both.
The proposal, estimated to cost up to £140,000, was put forward by Councillor Alan Chalmers, Kenilworth’s mayor and a high-fidelity multimodal virtual experience researcher at the University of Warwick. A new team has now been formed to oversee the project and submit financing applications.
While the council members unanimously supported the initiative, there were concerns about the associated costs and the level of expertise required. Councillor Alex Randall highlighted that the report suggests an increase in the number of visitors to Kenilworth. He questioned whether the task and completion group would be evaluated after establishment and what additional business value the project offers.
Randall pointed out that £140,000 is a significant amount of money, especially considering other ongoing projects such as the children’s playground, the swimming pool, and fire stations. He wondered if this is a sensitive time for the project or if it might be perceived as a vanity project, emphasising the need for sensitivity despite his support.
Councillor Chalmers explained that the idea is to create a unique experience that attracts people to Kenilworth. While the castle is already a significant attraction, this project aims to offer something entirely different, especially for a younger audience. He mentioned that currently, Abbey Fields offers grass and will eventually include a swimming pool, but the augmented reality project adds another incentive to visit Kenilworth.
Chalmers clarified that funding for the project would come from various sources, including the National Lottery, BLEF, and possibly English Heritage, rather than being covered directly by the town council.
Councillor Adrian Marsh expressed full support for the project, stating that it positions Kenilworth at the forefront of technological advancement. He believes that, combined with the existing visitor numbers at the castle, this project would reinforce Kenilworth’s status as a visitor destination and benefit local businesses by providing the town with a unique selling advantage.
