Axing centrescould delivereconomic blow

East Lindsey District Council is considering closing some Access Points and Information Centres - and slashing open hours at others - in the latest in a raft of cost-cutting measures.

The cash-strapped authority is looking to save £6million over four years and says it spends £730,000 a year providing Access Points and Tourist Information Centres but claims fewer people are using them.

However, Woodhall Spa parish councillor Shirley Williams warned the threat of closure, or reduced opening hours, did not make sense.

Speaking at a parish council meeting, she said Woodhall’s economy was heavily reliant on tourism and that the village Tourist Information Centre was well used.

She suggested ELDC could save money in other areas and questioned proposals for a mayor-led Greater Lincolnshire Authority.

She said: “On the one hand, the district council says it wants to increase tourism but on the other suggests closing tourist information centres. What message does that send out?”

Woodhall Spa district councillor Susanna Gorst told the parish council savings had to be made, adding: “Doing nothing is not an option. We have to make difficult decisions.”