THE future of the Abergavenny Tourist Information Centre has been secured.

The centre, which was based in a building next to the bus station for 23 years until its closure on Saturday, will re-open a short distance away in the Tithe Barn, Monk Street.

Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, which ran the centre with Monmouthshire county council, approved the closure in February, as part of efforts to save £650,000 in two years. The council contributes £35,000 a year towards the service on top of utilities and maintenance but could not make up the shortfall.

The authority held talks with Abergavenny Town Council, St Mary’s Priory Development Trust and Monmouthshire Council to find an alternative.

The town council agreed to contribute £11,500 towards the service for this year and The Priory House Company, offered the use of space in The Tithe Barn, next to St Mary’s Priory Church.

A spokesman for Monmouthshire council said: “The service is reopening in time for the Spring Bank Holiday on May 24. It will operate throughout the summer from the Tithe Barn.”

Julian Atkins, director of countryside and land management for Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, confirmed the service will move into the Tithe Barn ‘as soon as possible’.

He said: “We think the Tithe Barn will provide the ideal venue for the Tourist Information Centre.”

At a Chepstow town council meeting last month, deputy leader of Monmouthshire council Cllr Bob Greenland said further cuts to the authority might make operating Chepstow’s TIC unviable and that it might need to be devolved to other organisations.

The council has proposed April until October opening hours are cut to five a day Monday to Friday, and seven on Saturdays and Sundays.