THE future of Chepstow's tourist information centre was discussed last Wednesday (9th April).

Issues including a reduction in the opening hours of the TIC along with preventing its closure were discussed.

Councillor Bob Greenland, deputy leader of Monmouthshire County Council (MCC), Will McLean, head of partnerships and policy at MCC and Roger Hoggins, head of operations at the council, visited Chepstow Town Council at an extraordinary finance meeting to discuss the future of the TIC.

The budget set at the end of February this year, required MCC to fund a £9 million gap between expenditure and resources meaning that many services, including the TIC, will experience cuts.

New proposed opening hours to reduce running costs were presented to Chepstow Town Council at the meeting.

It was recommended in a presentation by Councillor Greenland that the TIC should open five hours on Monday to Friday with an hour's closure for lunch, then open on Saturday and Sunday for seven hours with an hour's closure for lunch.

Councillor Greenland said: "In Chepstow we need to look at all services and see if there's an opportunity to bring services together and save money but we need to cut hours to what is affordable."

Chepstow town councillors expressed their concern that if the TIC were to close then tourism in Chepstow would take a hit.

Councillor Ned Heywood MBE said: "To be thinking of closing the TIC is short sighted.

"The TIC is important to Chepstow and it would be a great shame for the TIC to close."

Councillor Yvonne Havard said that small towns like Chepstow are vital to tourists.

Councillor Peter Farley said: "I'm a fan of the TIC and am reluctant to see the service decimated."

Councillor Farley requested a "year's grace" during which, councillors could look at moving forward and discussing the options for the TIC.

Chepstow town council accepted that the running of the TIC will change in terms of opening hours, but they agreed to work with MCC and others to investigate the options for the TIC and find a long term solution.