THE decision to close Holyhead's tourist information centre has been branded as madness.
Holyhead Town Councillor John Knox Crawford said that the centre, which is due to close by October 1, provided an important service to town’s bed and breakfasts and visitors.
“It’s madness in my view. The centre does a lot more than handing out leaflets,” he said. “Can you imagine being stuck with a young family in bad weather with nowhere to go?”
He added that Holyhead would be the only major harbour town in the UK without a tourist information centre when it closes.
John Roberts, who runs the Monravon bed and breakfast, said that the centre provides him with a considerable amount of bookings.
“I think it’s disgusting,“ he said. “We’ve been hit a lot by different things in Holyhead and it’s getting worse all the time.”
Andrew Shirt, owner of Harbour Front Bistro, said that all businesses in the town would be affected by the closure.
“Like all businesses across the country we are suffering and when you’re having to make cut backs, the first thing to go is advertising,” he said. “We rely on the tourist information centre.”
The centre, which is located at Holyhead Port, currently employs a manager and three part-time staff members.
Anglesey Council’s economic development and tourism spokesman Jon Pennington said that running two tourist information centres on the Island was a financial burden in the current economic climate.
He added that the centre’s problems were not just financial.
“Visitors are looking for different ways of obtaining information, both during their holiday and before they leave,” he said. “More and more people are using the internet.”
The council will introduce tourist information points in locations in Holyhead, Amlwch and Llangefni at a mobile tourist information centre by the time the centre closes.
More tourist information will be available from council-owned tourist attractions and on ferries at Holyhead Port.
Mr Pennington added that while he understood traders’ fears, he hoped that the alternative measures to be introduced by the council would prevent a particularly negative effect on businesses.