SIR — Minehead is the gateway to Exmoor National Park and relies heavily on tourism, so it was with mounting despair that I read that the purpose-built visitor information centre, which opened with such fanfare in 2008, is facing an uncertain future.

Having spent my entire working life in the travel industry, run my own business and travelled extensively, my impressions of this centre have been negative from the outset.

What a strange idea to have an intrusive display cabinet, filled with sundry knick knacks, straddling the entrance to the centre and the staff tucked away at the rear, the staff should be highly visible at all times.

Furthermore there should be ample free parking for visitors and provision for local tour operators eg the Exmoor safaris, to have a pick up/drop off point. What about the vacant piece of land behind the building?

Also, when I have been travelling, the big 'I' sign not only means information, it means decent loos and a café.

So now the council is considering mothballing the centre and developing responsibility to volunteers and the private sector and has issued this statement: "If interested parties would like to operate from other premises, the council also has an office in Summerland car park in the heart of the town which is currently vacant".

I presume that they are referring to the old Traveline office, which is hardly more than a rabbit hutch.

Anyway, thanks to our local councillors, our town has already lost its swimming pool, parking charges have soared and now there is talk of imminent closure/downsizing of the visitor information centre.

Not exactly a good advertisement for visitors; some will come once and vow never to return.

Oh, I forgot some good news on the horizon, folks - we are going to get a lovely new clock tower on the seafront!

Jane Miles,

Periton Lane,

Minehead.