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'Expensive' tourist info centre set to close

Google The North Norfolk Visitor Centre on a sunny day.Google
More than 80,000 people visited the North Norfolk Visitor Centre last year

A holiday destination's last remaining tourist information centre could be closed down to save money.

North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) is considering shutting the site in Cromer, which it said cost £170,000 per year to run.

A report for councillors said that most tourist destinations no longer have similar centres, and it was "considered to be anachronistic and expensive".

NNDC’s Liberal Democrat Leader, Tim Adams said that "things have changed quite drastically in the way people access all of the information if they were planning a holiday" and that most people would carry out a search online.

He added that the council needed to cut costs or eventually "risk bankruptcy if we don’t balance our budget".

"If we reach that position we’ll be at extreme risk of losing things such as Holt Country Park, Cromer Pier and public toilets."

Paul Moseley/BBC Cromer Pier, as seen from the an elevated position above the promenade.Paul Moseley/BBC
Tim Adams said sites like Cromer Pier would be at "extreme risk" if the council did not save money

The council has already drawn up plans to cut costs on toilets but last week rejected plans to sell leases on its beach huts.

According to a report for the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, 82,854 people used the North Norfolk Visitor Centre in 2023, which is based in the Meadow Car Park in Cromer.

But the number of people visiting varies significantly depending on the time of year, with 14,755 visitors recorded in August and just 2,140 in December.

It said that data suggested more than 9.4m visitors travelled to North Norfolk but "there was little to suggest" how the centre helped to attract people.

Martin Giles/BBC Tim Adams, standing in front of a building. He's wearing a green/brown jacket and glasses.Martin Giles/BBC
Council leader Tim Adams said toilets in the visitor centre complex would remain open

"Things have changed quite drastically in the way people access all of the information if they were planning a holiday – the first place they’d go is Google," added Mr Adams.

The closure of the tourist information centre is likely to be confirmed when the council draws up its budget plans for 2025/26, early next year.

It is part of a complex with award winning public toilets, but Mr Adams said they would not be affected by the centre’s closure.

"The future of that public toilet facility is assured."

Listen: The tourist information centre in Cromer has been vital for some, but is set to close

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