DETERMINED councillors are working hard to ensure a “vital” tourist information centre is reopened in Barmouth in time for next year’s tourist season.

Earlier this year Gwynedd Council made the decision to close its centres in Caernarfon, Porthmadog and Barmouth after they made a number of cuts in services due to a reduction in the local authority’s budget.

However, at this week’s Barmouth Town Council meeting, talks were held on whether the TIC in the town could be maintained independently of the county council.

Councillors Katie Price and David Clay, along with David and Heather Brown of the Barmouth Publicity Association, have both led the charge to keep tourism services in the town.

“I’ve been involved in the TIC for more than four decades now, it’s a vital asset to Barmouth,” Cllr Clay said.

“We originally attempted to have Barmouth Town Council, or an entity controlled by the council, take charge of the new facility which would be based in the old TIC building, owned by Network Rail.

"However, as the council needs a commercial partner to operate the new centre, Network Rail have stated the lease would have to be in Lounge Holidays name.

"We hope to have something up and running by Spring next year.”

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News