Closure of tourist office is slammed

Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale) says he has been swamped with complaints about the closure of the Boroughgate office.

He says he was not consulted over the move by Leeds City Council and fears the local economy could be hit.

Meanwhile the city council says it believes a proposal to re-locate the centre to Otley's library will provide a better service for tourists.

But it has declined to comment on when or whether such a move will definitely take place.

Councillor Kirkland said: "As a ward member I have not been consulted about the closure in advance.

"Indeed I was merely informed that the centre has closed and that it might - not that it will - reopen in the library.

"With the approach of the main tourist season it is vital for the economy in Otley that a proper information service for tourists be maintained.''

Reg Dyson, a volunteer at Otley Museum, said: "A tourist information centre is the focal point for people coming into towns and if there's nowhere for people to go to find the information they need about accommodation and things to see they'll just go somewhere else."

Councillor Kirkland, who also represents the West Chevin ward on Otley Town Council, said people were as angry about the office's closure as they were about the controversial 'Welcome to Leeds' signs at the entrances to Otley.

He said: "Following hard on the heels of the ridiculous saga about signs describing Otley as Leeds this latest gesture by the Council shows a complete lack of understanding about the needs of local towns and communities.''

A spokesman for Leeds City Council's leisure services department said: "The department believes that the proposal to bring together the library and the Tourist Information Centre in Otley will provide a better quality of service."

But the spokesman declined to comment on the reasons for the closure, Councillor Kirkland's comments or whether the centre would definitely reopen at the library.