THE TOURIST information centre in Petersfield has been saved for a year, thanks to the actions of the town council.

Last Thursday evening, Petersfield Town Council (PTC) set aside £45,000 to run the centre for a year, after East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) announced it was due to close down on April 25.

Despite this swift response to the news that the district council was closing the centre in Petersfield Library by cutting its £40,000-a-year funding, it will still have to close for a ‘handover’ period.

PTC spokesman Steve Field said the town council hadn’t been consulted about the closure, but had reacted with urgency after the announcement in January.

He added: “We wanted to keep it open from April 25, but it may close for a short time while a new contract is agreed, which is a shame.

“Tourism South East ran the centre on behalf of EHDC. The town council has agreed to renew the Tourism South East contract for a year.

“This will allow the council to transform and develop the centre and its services for the future.”

Any decisions over the future of the centre’s one full time, three part time, and two casual staff would be made by Tourism South East, said Mr Field.

The EHDC closure announcement came despite Petersfield being seen as one of the gateways to the South Downs National Park and a popular visitor destination for tourists in the south.

An EHDC spokesman said the £40,000 it was saving would be used to fund alternative ways of attracting visitors to the area.