THE Tourist Information Centre in Bradford on Avon has closed its doors to the public due to financial difficulties.

Town councillors were told on Tuesday that the Tourism Association held an extraordinary general meeting last Thursday at which it was agreed by an overall majority that the centre in St Margaret’s Street should be closed, with only two votes against the decision.

The executive committee for the Tourism Association has been disbanded while final plans are put into place to distribute the remaining funds to necessary creditors.

Gerald Milward-Oliver, who joined the executive committee in July, told councillors the TIC had been managed by FAB! Events Global Ltd.

He said there is three years to run on the lease for the premises and the Tourism Association was now hoping to use the space, working with the neighbouring Pavilion cafe.

Association chairman Mr Milward-Oliver said that the town council would get back the £1,000 Festival of Christmas grant it gave to the TIC but would not get back £14,750, which was presented to the Tourism Association at the start of the financial year, as it was not tied to any specific project.

Visit Wiltshire has been informed of the closure. Staff who were working at TIC were mainly volunteers.

The Bradford on Avon Tourist Information Centre website is still running and there are plans to make sure that this continues.

Mr Milward-Oliver said: “This is not the end of tourism in Bradford on Avon. It is just the end of the Bradford on Avon Tourism Association and Information Centre. We are now trying to find a resolution.”

Cllr Laurie Brown told the meeting: “We as a council have already raised concerns over the Information Centre and the Tourism Association and the ownership of it.”