A BRECON businessman and Powys county councillor has disputed claims that the town council cannot afford to take on financial responsibility for the tourist information centre.
Brecon’s TIC in the Cattle Market Car Park is expected to close at the end of January and some of its function will be moved to Brecon Library in Ship Street before the new museum and cultural centre Y Gaer opens at some point later in the year and it moves there.
Powys council, which has planned the closure for some time, hopes to let the current TIC building on a commercial basis.
However many Brecon residents and traders are up in arms because they see the loss of the purpose-built facility as a major loss for the town and surrounding area.
A recent bid by three Brecon town councillors to persuade the town council to take over the TIC’s running was abandoned with the councillors claiming the idea had been scuppered by the high rent the unitary authority was demanding for the site.
Now Yscir county councillor Iain McIntosh, who runs Young’s of Brecon, the carpet & flooring business, has written a letter to the town council asking them to reconsider.
He says he does not accept that the town council would not be able to afford to rent the TIC premises from the county council.
Outlining the case for keeping the TIC open, Iain said: “I am disappointed that the previous cabinet in Powys County Council decided to close Brecon TIC. Within the Yscir ward there are holiday cottages, bed & breakfast businesses and tourist attractions that all benefit by having the TIC in Brecon. No doubt this will also be the case in all neighbouring wards outside Brecon.
“It’s unfortunate that Powys County Council can’t afford to keep the TIC but I believe that Brecon Town Council can. I have written to the town council to ask them to reconsider saving the TIC as I don’t accept their view that the rent being asked for by Powys County Council is beyond the town council’s precept. Last year, despite claims of suffering from cuts, the town council received a precept of £286,850, up by over £22,000 from 2016 and another £20,000 from 2015. The rent being asked for by PCC is way below 10% of that and as the town council also has a bank balance of over £208,000 (as of September), and further reserves of £69,733 I have to question their claim that they can’t afford it.”
Cllr McIntosh goes on to say: “I am surprised at the amount of money spent by the town council on other projects in Brecon, things like £89.8k +vat on a barely used bandstand, £97.5k on upgrading two toilet blocks and £6.5k leasing a photocopier when the same model can be purchased for around £1k. If they can spend that sort of money on projects like that then I’m sure they can save the TIC for Brecon.
“Other town councils help their towns by contributing towards services like the TIC as well as other things like free or reduced fee car parks. In my letter to Brecon Town Council I have asked if they have approached the Welsh Government for any grant aid to keep the service open. I have also asked the town council to consider sub-leasing part of the premises out to another business to contribute towards keeping the TIC. I think enquiries should be made to someone like the National Trust. The NT and TIC are two brands that would work very well together and in doing so it would secure the jobs of the well respected and valuable TIC staff.
“I have also asked the town council if they have asked neighbouring community councils or Breconshire businesses reliant on the services from the TIC for assistance.
“It’s clear to me that Powys County Council can no longer afford to keep the TIC in Brecon open, but I believe that Brecon Town Council can. I really want to make sure that the town council has explored all ways of saving the TIC before we lose it!”
Brecon Town Council have acknowledged Iain’s letter but not responded to any of the points or questions raised. More stories