CONTENTIOUS plans to move a rural market town’s tourist information centre are to be put to the public at a special meeting.

Hambleton District Council is looking to move its tourism base from its Thirsk Market Place base to the World of James Herriot.

At present the tourist centre, Thirsk Town Council and the Yorkshire Moors and Coast Partnership all have rooms in the Market Place building.

The moors and coast partnership is set to merge with the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate Tourism Partnership and so will need more space.

This means it is moving out and the district council is looking at the possibility of moving the TIC and selling the building.

The district’s cabinet committee has agreed in principle to sell the building leaving the town council in place as it has a lease until 2012.

Before the full council discusses the proposal the district wants to canvass the opinions of locals at a special Thirsk Area Forum.

Residents have voiced concerns that a move might make the centre hard to find for visitors and also that the proposed base is not big enough.

District councillor Tony Hall, cabinet member for prosperity, said: "The tourism centre is an invaluable source of information for local people and visitors.

"But we have the opportunity to now look at the best place for it to be sited and the best way for it to be.

"Considerable savings could be made through this move and this council must look at all of them."

The Thirsk Forum will take place at 6.30pm on March 9 at Rural Arts.

Councillor Gareth Dadd, forum chairman, said: "Tourism is the very heart beat of Thirsk and its hinterland and as such it is vital we get this correct.

"I urge all interested parties to attend and there will be with ample opportunity for comments from the public."