WORRIED bed and breakfast owners fear the closure of a tourist information centre on Saturday afternoon could hit their businesses.

Congleton Borough Council says the decision to close Congleton's TIC at 1pm was taken because of the need to save money on its tourism budget.

However the move has been condemned as 'penny pinching' and council chiefs are being called on to think again.

The High Street TIC is the main source of business for Sara Bostock from Over Hall Farm in Biddulph, who feared the closure could cost her visitors.

"Many looking for accommodation in the area at the weekend will ring or drop in at the centre," she said.

"If it's not open we may well lose business, and if there was one afternoon in the week it should be open it would be Saturday."

David Worth from Sandhole Farm, a bed and breakfast on the edge of Congleton, described the closure decision as ''penny-pinching.''

"Apart from the impact on local bed and breakfasts visitors will also be spending their money in shops and attractions elsewhere," he said.

Lorraine Mullinex from The Woodlands bed and breakfast in Mow Cop estimated 90 per cent of her business came from referrals from Congleton TIC.

Dorothy Gilman, from Pedley House Farm bed and breakfast in Timbersbrook, said the council would do better to close on another afternoon.

"We get people stopping off in Congleton on their way to Scotland or the south of England, as the town is half way between both," she said.

Borough economic development and tourism manager Bob Birchenough said closing on Saturday afternoon was the most 'convenient' time in terms of managing the council's tourism budget and staff.

Saturday afternoon was the most difficult to manage because the council relied on casual staff, he added, and if the centre had remained open that afternoon the council's tourism budget would be overspent.

The service would be reviewed next month, he added, and if councillors felt Saturday afternoon opening at Congleton was a priority it would reopen.

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