Planned changes to Newtown’s Tourist Information Centre have sparked criticism from an action group in the town.

News the office in Back Lane was to close later this year for refurbishment, before reopening as a Powys County Council customer service centre, providing fewer facilities for tourists, has been condemned by the 21st Century Newtown Action group.

Philip Glynn, group spokesman, claimed it was just the latest example of Newtown becoming a “second class town” and losing out again to Welshpool.

“We had heard rumours the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in Newtown was soon to close and, when I called in, I was horrified by what a staff member told me,” he said.

“I was told it was moving to Welshpool and from now on visitors arriving in Newtown will have to travel to Welshpool for bed booking and other tourist information amenities.

“This is another example of Newtown being classed as a second-class town. The bypass was built for Welshpool, but there’s no sign of that in Newtown.

“They are likely to get a 21st century store, Sainsbury’s, long before there is any movement on the livestock market/Tesco site in Newtown.

“What is needed here in Newtown is new investment, which starts with Tesco being granted permission to build on the derelict site of the livestock market.

“It’s time we saw the derelict site transformed into a popular shopping experience.”

A council spokesman confirmed the the TIC would be closing for refurbishment at the end of the year, but would reopen in the spring as one of the council’s first Customer Service Centres.

He said: “The centre in Newtown will offer a non-networked tourism service, housing and a range of other council services from the building in Back Lane, making it the main contact point for the council for the people of Newtown and visitors.

“Staff at the building are currently in the process of transferring to the council’s customer services team and will continue to be based there. The council is pleased it has been able to avoid a redundancy situation.”

He said the main change was the new centre would not offer a bed-booking service linked into the Wales national tourism service.

By Deborah Knox