Chipping Sodbury Tourist Information Centre (TIC) is to open all year round thanks to Gloucestershire-based Chauffeurhire, reported The Gazette newspaper.
The centre has previously only opened on a seasonal basis between March and November because funding grants did not cover the cost of heating the building during the winter.
However, the operator has offered to pay the centre’s winter heating bills so volunteers can remain on hand to offer information to visitors to the town all year round. The extra heating bill comes to an estimated £110 a month during winter.
Tourist Information Centre Manager Laura Lee Phillips said: “The TIC is run by volunteers and receives grants from Sodbury Town Council, Dodington Parish Council and Yate Town Council. Although welcome the grants are not sufficient for the TIC to remain open over the winter.
“Due to numerous requests from locals and businesses, the Committee of the TIC voted to open all year round to satisfy demand. The extra cost of heating the TIC will be met by Chauffeurhire coaches who stepped in when they heard of the shortfall in funding.”
Chauffeurhire owner Gary Davies said: “I think this is what our town needs. The TIC has been so much busier this year and it would do our town good to stay open all year round.
“It will do us good as a company and I think if you ask other local traders they will say the same.”
“I think it is something the town council should be doing but we were happy to step in and help rather than see it not open all year,” he added.
For more information, call 01454 888686 or visit the website at https://www.yateandchippingsodbury.co.uk
