THE latest round of cuts from Active Northumberland is likely to see a North Tyne tourist information centre handed over to local volunteers, and two staff relocated.

The future of Bellingham tourist information centre, housed in the village’s Heritage Centre, has been under question for some time, following the reduction of services at other centres across the district.

It has now been revealed that Northumberland County Council and Active Northumberland will no longer provide a direct service at the Heritage Centre from April 1.

Instead, in order to keep a tourism service in the village, volunteer staff who run the Heritage Centre have agreed to it take over.

Terry Bragg, chairman of Bellingham Heritage Centre, said the Heritage Centre volunteers were still waiting for final confirmation of these plans.

He said: “It is really well used and it will really be sad to lose the professional support there. Tourism is one of the biggest employers in this area and to lose that support really puts us in a very difficult situation.

“The staff at Active Northumberland have been working with us extremely well and really regretted having to make the decision. They have offered support and training to help us continue.

“We want to keep the service not only to the whole community but to the Heritage Centre too, so are willing to take it on. But it will be quite hard – many of the volunteers are old and will need to be trained to make money at the tourist information centre.”

Two staff who currently work at the tourist information centre, and have done for many years, will lose their jobs in Bellingham.

They have been offered other opportunities with Northumberland County Council within Tynedale.

A spokesman for Active Northumberland said: “Economically, it is difficult for the authority to justify the ongoing costs associated with delivering a direct service at Bellingham in that it serves only modest numbers of visitors.

“This means it has limited opportunities to create substantial direct or indirect returns on investment.

“Active Northumberland has been in discussions with the heritage centre trust at Bellingham who are willing to continue the operation of a visitor information service as part of the attraction so the service will not be lost.

“Active Northumberland will assist the trust with the transition by providing support and training for the trust volunteers and employees along with ongoing practical support.”