Tourist centre move is "madness"

Concerns have been voiced over Hambleton District Council plans to relocate the Thirsk centre from the Market Place to the World of James Herriot to save money.

However, the centre – which attracts 55,000 people a year – was in the tourist attraction up until nine years ago, but moved out because conditions were too cramped.

The district council-run Thirsk Area Forum, which debated the issue, heard it may not be the right time to move the service.

Peter Walker, Thirsk Regeneration Initiative chairman, said: “It seems wrong to do this at the start of the busiest period of the year.

“You would think the council would have the sense to get the busiest period out of the way and then have another look at this.

“Even if the tourism office moves, the council will not sell the empty building until maybe the end of the year.”

Councillor Nigel Clack said: “They want to close it as the busy season starts. You would have to be absolutely mad to do that.”

The tourism centre shares the building with Thirsk Town Council and the Yorkshire Moors and Coast Area Tourism Partnership.

The proposal to move the centre follows an announcement by the partnership that it is quitting its office.

The district council says a move to the World of James Herriot will save it £5,000 a year on running costs plus income from the building’s sale.

Ted Nesbitt, a tourism office volunteer, said: “We can get several hundreds of people a day through the office in July and August.

“There is very little space in the Herriot centre and it was crowded in there when we were there before.”

The area forum voted unanimously to tell the district council that moving the tourist office was not supported locally.

It further called for a full strategic review of the situation to find suitable premises with all tourism providers included in it.

A report will go back to the council’s cabinet meeting next month for further discussion.