A NEW tenant is being sought for the former Richmond Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in a bid to bring a new lease of life to the building.

And a new home for the information service is still to be found in the town.

Richmondshire District Council is looking for a business to take over the building – which includes the running of the busy public toilet block next door.

The toilets had a footfall of about 200,000 people in 2011, and the Victoria Road building also benefits from passing trade as it forms part of the Coast to Coast route through the town.

The centre closed earlier this year after the Richmondshire Leisure Trust pulled out of an agreement to run the two facilities.

The district council is currently working with the pool of volunteers which ran the TIC to find a new home for the function.

Richmondshire District Council deputy leader Mick Griffiths said: “We had hoped to house the TIC and volunteer pool at Victoria Road but the volunteers said they want to find a new base with a more certain future.

“We have approached Richmond Town Council to see if there is space at its Market Hall but unfortunately it is completely full.”

He said the Victoria Road building will be advertised as a business opportunity – with the council willing to look at all plans put forward for it.

However they must include taking on the cleaning of the public toilets. Richmond Mayor Stuart Parsons said the town council was also working hard to find a permanent home for the TIC.

He said: “There are a couple of town centre businesses that are interested in housing the service – I can’t confirm anything yet as we are still ironing out the details.

“Over the Easter weekend, the Station, Georgian Theatre Royal and Richmond Castle stepped in to provide tourism information.

“We are very grateful to them for filling the gap but of course they are not dedicated to providing the service so we do need a permanent home for the TIC as soon as possible.”

Anyone interested in providing a base for the TIC, or in taking up a lease on the former TIC building should contact Pat Wilson at the district council on 01748-829100 or email pat.wilson@richmondshire.gov.uk.