THE LIBERAL Democrat candidate for West Worcestershire says he is determined to prevent the Malvern Tourist Information Centre from being moved away from its current location.
Edward McMillan-Scott, who is competing for the area seat in the snap General Election on June 8, has expressed his concern over moving the Church Street-based service, which has been there since 1996, into the new £950,000 community centre on Avenue Road later this year.
Councillors from Malvern Hills District Council, which owns the TIC, unanimously approved the move at a meeting in September last year but fears have now grown over the decision.
Concerns have also been raised over reducing the service’s staff.
Mr McMillan-Scott, formerly a senior MEP and the European Parliament’s tourism spokesman, said: “Tourism is worth over £82m to the wider Malvern economy, whether through the entertainment, showground, hotels and restaurants sectors, and it only requires tiny amounts of local government expenditure.
“The tourist office should stay put, with its excellent staff.”
Malvern Town Council have been fighting to save the TIC since the district council made its decision last year.
The authority set up a working party in February and have since launched an online petition which has received more than 500 signatures.
A petition was also launched by Rodney Randle, who owns Malvern Goldsmiths in Bellevue Terrace, earlier this year which has also been signed by more than 500 concerned residents.
To sign the town council’s petition, visit http://bit.ly/2qnCNMs.
