A LEADING councillor fears that Tourist Information Centres in Malvern and Upton could be downgraded as part of council budget cuts.

Malvern Hills District Council, in its medium term financial plan, has agreed to cut £80,000 from its tourism services budget in 2009/10.

Cllr Tom Wells, chairman of the overview and scrutiny committee, said: "This could mean the end of the TICs, and they would be replaced by little kiosks. It's such a retrograde step, especially when improved visitor services is one of the council priorities, and council tax is going up by 4.5 per cent."

Cllr Ralph Madden confirmed the budget reduction had been agreed, but said Clllr Wells was being a bit premature in saying the TICs are marked for closure.

"We will be looking at ways to use new technology to improve delivery of information, but were a long way from making a decision a or event setting out any options," he said.

He said officers are expected to look at the matter and draw up a report, to be delivered to the council in six to nine months

12:06pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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