‘Vital’ Yorkshire Dales tourist centre facing axe after cuts (From The Westmorland Gazette)

‘Vital’ Yorkshire Dales tourist centre facing axe after cuts

12:00pm Saturday 27th February 2010 in

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THE future of a Yorkshire Dales tourist information centre is in doubt after having its funding cut.

Ingleton Tourist Information Centre, which attracts 18,000 visitors a year, has had its £5,000 annual grant from Craven District Council slashed to £1,500.

And for the first time that money will only be given on the condition the parish council can match it.

Manager Liz Culshaw said: “If we can’t get the funding to keep it open it would be a huge loss. It is a vital part of the village and not just for the tourists but for locals too. It’s a very stressful time.”

The centre, which started life 36 years ago in a caravan, is now based in the community centre and run by a team of 40 volunteers.

There is enough money to keep the centre going until October, but if funding is not secured in time for the 2011 season, the centre may be forced to close.

Paul Weir, chair of the Ingleton and District Tradespeople’s Association (IDTA), which oversees the tourist information centre, said: “It is beyond belief that you can ignore the biggest industry in Craven. We waited a long time for last year’s funding but then this year we have had a bombshell. It is just so short-sighted of Craven District Council.”

Mr Weir said the IDTA would ask Ingleton Parish Council if it could donate £1,500.

David Smurthwaite, of Craven council, said: “Over the last two years the council has had to look for £2.5 million pounds in savings.This has meant taking some tough decisions.“We know this outcome is disappointing but we will work with the tradespeoples to seek other sources of funding.”