CHIPPENHAM NEWS: FEARS that funding for Corsham's Tourist Information Centre could be withdrawn have prompted town councillors to insist they could not afford to run the facility if the responsibility fell to them.

The Tourist Information and Heritage Centre in Corsham costs up to £45,000 a year to run and is, at the moment, funded by North Wiltshire District Council.

The district council has been in talks with Corsham Town Council over options open to the centre, after funding of Chippenham's TIC was devolved to its town council.

At a meeting on Monday Cllr Allan Bosley said the funding withdrawal threat was not imminent.

But he said at a meeting with district councillors on Friday he had made it clear the town council could not afford to finance the centre if funding was transferred to them.

"We felt it was important to go into that meeting with the view that we would not be in a position to undertake funding," he said.

"From the figures that we have been given for running the tourist information centre we would not be in a position to support running it in its present form.

"We hope to hear from North Wiltshire District Council that it doesn't intend to withdraw funding anyway so that that situation doesn't arise."

District council figures show around 30,000 people a year use the TIC in Corsham a town which boasts a wealth of historic buildings including the Almshouses and Corsham Court.

As well as providing information to visitors, the centre takes bookings for hotels and B&Bs, sells bus tickets, maps, local produce and charity Christmas cards.

There are also two exhibition rooms at the centre displaying information on local history.

Town and district councillor, Roy Jackson, said: "North Wiltshire District Council is looking at a number of things that it would like to pass on to the towns and parishes one of which is the tourist information centre."

He said the centre was not facing closure and any changes would be unlikely to take place for at least three years.

Chippenham Town Council has agreed to take on management of its TIC, after a meeting with North Wiltshire District Council's executive committee last month.