Cromer visitor could close amid council cost cutting measures

North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) is considering closing the tourist information centre, based in the Meadow Car Park at Cromer, in an effort to save money. 

NNDC has said the site costs £170,000 per year to run and about 83,000 used it last year. 

A report for councillors revealed that many tourist destinations no longer have similar centres, and it was “considered to be anachronistic and expensive”. 

According to a report for the council’s overview and scrutiny committee, 82,854 people used the North Norfolk Visitor Centre in 2023.

Data suggests more than 9.4m visitors travelled to North Norfolk but ‘there was little to suggest’ how the centre helped to attract people.

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The closure is likely to be confirmed when the council draws up its budget plans for 2025-26, early next year.

North Norfolk District Council is seeking measures to plug a growing deficit of £1.8m including plans to close 40pc of its public toilets. 

The council announced the toilets at the centre would not be affected by the closure.

Council leader Tim Adams said: “People’s usage of physical tourism information has changed significantly over the years, and we are also no longer selling tickets, beach huts etc.

“It is important that councils like ourselves continue to be able to fulfil the work of destination management organisations, like Visit North Norfolk, which are promoting North Norfolk beyond our border.

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Tim Adams, council leader (Image: Liberal Democrats) “The government budget has delivered little certainty to us, with the local government sector as a whole still seeing at least a £1bn budget gap next year.

“As a result of the budget gap of £1.8m largely caused by homelessness and temporary accommodation costs, we are continuing to identify potential savings.”