Why not re-open the library tourist centre? (From Dudley News)

Why not re-open the library tourist centre?

8:10am Wednesday 13th June 2007 in Letters

SOME years ago the Dudley Information and Tourist Office was removed from the quiet end of Churchill Precinct and successfully established in the Central Dudley Library where it was extremely successful and very busy.

However, in a vain attempt to bolster that expensive white elephant, Dudley Council (Sur) plus some of the services of the Tourist Office was transferred there and the library office was closed.

Furthermore the services offered in the new site are so limited that the English Tourist Board will not recognise it and this at a time when we are continually being told how important is the promotion of tourism in the Black Country.

I was therefore amazed on Monday June 4 when I saw in one of the many empty stalls in Dudley Market Place, a small display of leaflets publicising the tourist attractions of Dudley manned by a very polite lady from the council department promoting tourism.

One really must ask why such a desperate measure was considered necessary. Presumably someone has realised what a terribly expensive blunder it was by those councillors and high paid officials who decided to close the excellent facility in the library. Will heads roll and councillors admit what a mistake it was? Somehow I doubt it but as the area in Dudley Library is still intact but disused would it be beyond the bounds of common sense to re-establish the excellent service previously offered there?

Roger Bruton

Dudley