OUTRAGE has been caused over plans to close a tourist information centre in the heart of Ribble Valley.

Lancashire County Council is proposing to close the tourist information centre in Market Place, Clitheroe, and switch services to the town's library with the loss of four jobs.

Similar county council funded tourist offices in Chorley and Lytham are also in line for transfer as LCC looks to save £100,000 in rental fees at their tourist information sites.

Marketing itself as the "centre of the kingdom", the Ribble Valley attracts about 1.5million visitors every year with one million of them being day visitors.

The fear is that the delivery of tourism could suffer if the Clitheroe office is axed leaving many visitors unaware of what the Ribble Valley has to offer.

And Clitheroe is central to many of the tourism links in the area as it provides a focal point for nearby restaurants and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty such as the Forest of Bowland.

Chris Hughes, Ribble Valley Council's community development manager, said they had been left in the dark by LCC over the proposed changes.

He said: "If reports are true, then it will have serious consequences for the delivery of tourist information services in Ribble Valley.

"Our main concern is the lack of any consultation about the proposed closure, which has caused us embarrassment, as well as concern to our staff and colleagues in the tourism sector."

Conservative MP for Ribble Valley, Nigel Evans, said: "I am absolutely appalled by the decision of Lancashire County Council to close the tourist information centre.

"We should be shouting about what the area has to offer and a prominent office in the town centre is something which is seen by thousands of visitors and promotes our commitment to attracting visitors.

"Who is going to walk into the library instead?"

"It's another nail in the coffin of the rural way of life and follows the clobbering taken by post offices, the poor rural bus services and the increased price of bus fares in rural areas. It is another attack on our way of life."

County Councillor Chris Cheetham, Cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "Libraries are developing into places where people can access information and services in one location."

The proposals, discussed at a Cabinet meeting, will ensure the council balances its budget and keeps any increase in council tax to a minimum.

"The centres are fundamentally tourist information outlets and the information could be provided through public libraries, district council one-stop shops, and online.

"Leisure tickets are currently available through other outlets in the towns and this service could also be made available in libraries."

The proposals are to be discussed during a consultation before a final decision is made early next year.

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