Ashby Labour Councillor, Dave Bigby, has expressed a cautious welcome for the decision to re-open a re-organised Ashby Tourist Information Centre (TIC).

Last month, North West Leicestershire District Council officers recommended permanent closure of the TIC as part of a major re-organisation of tourism promotion resources.

But this evening's meeting of the council Cabinet reversed that decision - but there will be some differences.

Cllr Bigby explained: "I'm very pleased that that the District Council's cabinet has now accepted that closing the TIC is 'no longer being proposed',

"This is a positive step forward in our campaign to save the TIC which was shut during Covid and threatened with never re-opening".

"Thanks to a concerted campaign, supported by Ashby Civic Society's petition and Ashby Town Council, the council's corporate scrutiny committee unanimously rejected the recommendation for closure and requested that alternative options be presented to Cabinet.

"But the reason for my caution is that the newly preferred option involves replacing District Council staff at the TIC (who will be redeployed elsewhere), with staff from local Ashby organisations, such as the BID (Business Improvement District) and Town Council.

"These organisations have yet to formally agree the proposal, so this approach is by no means assured.

"The District Council Labour Group would have much preferred that the TIC remained fully-funded and staffed by the council's professional tourism promotion team."

Cllr Bigby is also keen for TIC to encompass the whole of the surrounding region.

He added: "Also, if this goes forward, there is a danger that the TIC will become far more focused on Ashby alone, rather than promoting Ashby within the context of the many tourist attractions across the wider district.

"The BID and Town Council are solely funded by Ashby businesses and residents, though I understand that the District Council will still be responsible for providing the premises and so will have some input into their approach," he added.

"For a properly integrated service, we need the TIC to emphasise Ashby's important role as a thriving market town surrounded by wonderful places to visit including the National Forest and our remarkable industrial heritage."