Arundel businesses dealt a blow after information centre axed

The information centre in Crowd Yard car park, as well as the one in nearby Bognor Regis, has been axed as part of Arun District Council’s £2.2m worth of spending cuts, with the loss of five jobs at Arundel.

Despite an exhaustive, 18-month battle for funding from private investors, and an extended opening period during the summer season, Arun, which is responsible for the centre, was forced to admit defeat, after potential new operators pulled out at the last minute, in April.

Bed and breakfast owner Terry Meathrel, 58, who runs the Arden Guest House, in Queen Street, expressed shock at the loss of the centre.

He said: “If anywhere in the country could do with a visitor information centre, it’s Arundel. Theres so much here that people need help with.

“It’s a big loss. We used to get a lot of business through the centre and I wasn’t expecting it to close. I thought that the council was going to have a change of heart.

“So, yes, we’re disappointed. It was a very prospering and thriving business situation, one which I fear we won’t see again.”

Now a new service, which is set to save taxpayers about £100,000, will be in operation.

A streamlined “VIC Lite” will soon be introduced at the Crown Yard premises, with the help of the Arundel Museum Society, which will also be using the building as its temporary base for the next two years, from later this month.

The centre will be open to the public with free leaflets, maps, brochures, accommodation listings and internet access available.

Councillor Norman Dingemans, Arun’s cabinet member for economic and cultural development with responsibility for tourism, said: “We are changing the way we do things, operating differently and embracing the opportunities change can bring to tourism operations and marketing against one of the most difficult backdrops we have ever known.

“Arundel Museum Society will host our new walk-in, self-serve VIC Lite at Crown Yard, keeping easy access to tourism information in the heart of our towns.

“This is at a time when many councils up and down the country have simply just shut their tourism operations and banked the savings. We have always remained committed to tourism information in our towns – just no longer at the expense of the taxpayer.

“Over the summer, tourism businesses we have consulted with have shown great enthusiasm about closer working with the council to promote the district, recognising it is not just the responsibility of one organisation when it is to the benefit of all.”