Madam,

Surely the news on the front page of the Ross Gazette cannot be true.  If not it seems completely bizarre to move a Tourist Information Centre out of a small market town centre - the only reason I can see for doing this would be to achieve the ultimate aim of closing it down completely through lack of use. 

 

As far as I am aware no consultation has taken place; no local people involved in arriving at this decision; no liaison with groups within the town, who may have a vested interest in assisting in these circumstances, have been invited to comment. Unless, like the Schools Review debarcle earlier this year, the Council's idea of consultation is to state it's proposals on a 'like it or lump it' basis.  Once again, the County Council is riding roughshod over local needs and self-determination in what is, I assume, a knee-jerk response to a need to save money.

 

Tourism has been shown to be a growing industry within and around the town and brings trade which we desperately need.  To place the Tourist Information Office outside of the town and further than anybody visiting would choose to walk, even if they did negotiate the dual carriageway M50A40 spur, is crazy.

 

With so many empty shops within the town and other Council properties which could possibly be utilised together with various groups who, if approached, may offer ideas and practical help I sincerely hope you choose to re-evaluate this idea and come up with a workable alternative.

 

I understand that Council workers are currently working under extreme pressure to perform and reach financial saving targets but please, take another look, perhaps even visit the sites concerned, and you will see how ridiculous this idea is.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

P. Stevenson, Ros