Cuts to tourist service are not "exciting" says Ludlow councillor
A councillor has accused Shropshire Council of political spin at its worst for presenting cuts that he says will hurt tourism as "exciting".
Andy Boddington, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North, said he was astonished an overhaul of the town's Visitor Information Centre on Castle Square was presented as an "exciting future" when in fact it represented a slash in funding.
The centre, which currently has its own stand-alone section of the Ludlow Assembly Rooms building, is to merge with the Assembly Rooms box office from September 22.
"I don't have a problem with that, I think that's a good idea if it's done properly," Mr Boddington said. "The problem is that they're simply not going to put enough money into the tourist information and it's going to be marginalised - it will have almost no resources."
He said a council statement read: "Shropshire Council has been working closely with the Trustees of Ludlow Assembly Rooms and Ludlow Town Council to ensure that both historic buildings have a viable and exciting future." He said, in fact, the move represented a drastic cut in funding and a downgrading in services for the Visitor Information Centre.
"Tourists will no longer be able to book bed and breakfast at the Assembly Rooms," he said. "Staff will have to give priority to booking tickets for events. They won't have much time to give visitors advice.
"That's wrong. Tourism is a vital part of Ludlow's economy. It employs a lot of people. The very small cost of providing tourists with advice pays dividends in local pay packets.
"I am astounded that Shropshire Council is trying to dress up its vicious cuts to the tourist information service in Ludlow as an 'exciting future'. This is political spin at its worst.
"Shropshire Council's main aim at the moment is making budget cuts, not ensuring that people have jobs. It has got its priorities completely wrong."
An overhaul of Ludlow Assembly Rooms is due to take place, with Ludlow Museum set to move to the historical Buttercross building at the top of Broad Street, to make way for a cafe and bistro on the ground floor to bring in revenue.
The entrance to the Assembly Rooms venue as a whole will be where the visitor centre currently is, with the combined box office and tourist information moving there once work is completed.
In the meantime, from September 22, the centre will operate from the box office counter at the Mill Street entrance, with information leaflets and a computer station upstairs.
The Trustees of Ludlow Assembly Rooms are due to take over the lease and running of the building from Shropshire Council.
Tony Blench, chair of trustees, said: "All of us, Shropshire Council, Ludlow Town Council and Ludlow Assembly Rooms must keep working closely to deliver this challenging set of changes.
"I am confident that, together, we can secure a sustainable future for the Assembly Rooms and ensure that the wider community continues to benefit from these important services."
A spokesman for the council was unavailable for comment.
