Resort set to lose tourist information centre

North Norfolk Council is set to save £170,000 a year by closing the centre

The last tourist information centre in a resort is set to close down in a bid to save nearly £170,000 a year.

A report to North Norfolk Council described the centre in Cromer as "expensive" and revealed a downturn in the number of people using it.

It said the majority of visitors were choosing to get information about the coastal town online or from other locations, like cafés and B&Bs.

The centre's closure was one of several options put forward to save money at the cash-strapped council, which also included closing some of its public toilets.

A proposal to close it last year was put off, but members of the Liberal Democrat-run council's cabinet have now made the final decision to shut it down.

Liz Withington, the councillor responsible for leisure, said the move did not mean the authority was "no longer committing" itself to tourism.

"We need to move this process forward so we can consider the future use of the building and how we can support tourism in other ways," she added.

"With the season coming up, we need to address this with some urgency. "

Tourist information leaflets could be added to popular sites like Cromer Pier

The closure of the site was unanimously approved, with Ms Withington adding that there had been a high level of interest from people wanting to lease the building at the Meadow Road car park.

The council will now investigate how it can continue to provide tourist information in the town, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

This could involve an enhanced online presence, electronic information boards or physical leaflets at prominent tourist destinations, like Cromer Pier.

It also aims to move the interactive Deep History Coast display currently housed at the visitor centre, with hopes to relocate it to the nearby Cromer Museum.

Businesses interested in leasing the visitor centre building will be able to express their interest from 28 March.