Plans to close a Powys tourist information centre have been branded an “absolute disgrace”. Three jobs are set to be lost when the centre (TIC) in Machynlleth shuts at the end of March.

The closure comes after Powys County Council failed to find a new partner to take over the running of the centre in Heol Maengwyn, following a restructuring of its tourism services.

John Evans, council spokesman, said: “As part of the restructuring of tourism services approved by the board in October, the council has been seeking partners to take over the operation of tourist information centres in Welshpool and Machynlleth.

“The council has been successful in finding a partner for the Welshpool TIC, with Welshpool Town Council taking over operations from April. However, despite considerable effort no partner could be secured for Machynlleth TIC and regrettably the office will close from March 31 with the loss of three posts.”

But Councillor Michael Williams, council member for Machynlleth, said it was a “massive blow”.

He said: “This has come as a shock to the town because it is the very time when we need a centre of this nature.

“More and more families from Britain will be holidaying in their own country this year because of the economic situation and even families from abroad coming because of the state of the pound.

“Machynlleth is just the kind of town that would have benefited greatly from this, especially with the expertise of the staff at the TIC, but now it won’t be here. This is an absolute disgrace as it benefited the whole town and the surrounding area.”