Tourism centre set to become a dental surgery

A tourist information centre in a seaside resort is set to become a dental surgery.

North Norfolk District Council announced the closure of the centre in Cromer in January, in a bid to save £170,000 a year.

A cabinet report said eight bids were made for the lease of the building in Louden Road, with separate proposals including for it to be used as a real ale pub, café and bakery.

But council officers recommend members to lease the site to a dentist, on the basis that it is the best deal financially, while also offering "wider social and economic" benefits.

There is a shortage of dentists in Norfolk, with the county dubbed "the Sahara of dental deserts" by Health Secretary Wes Streeting last year.

Streeting said that in Norfolk and Waveney, there were "only 36 dentists per 100,000 people, compared with the national average of 53".

At the time, he pledged to meet local MPs about proposals for a dentistry school at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.

Supporters say that could help with the shortage, as some of those studying there might stay in the area once qualified.

However, concerns have been raised that its opening will be delayed because the government has yet to commit to funding.

Details of which dentist wants to take over the visitor centre have not been made publicly available, although the report for councillors said their bid for the leasehold of the building provided "the best financial consideration".

It said that if councillors chose to reject that offer, they should consider the others that were put forward.

The centre is due to close on Wednesday, with councillors due to make their decision on 6 May.

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