THE Duke of Richmond and Arun council leader Gordon Whittaker launched an appeal to save an award-winning tourist information centre

threatened with closure.

The Fontwell Visitor Information Centre is high on a hit list of services and

facilities that could be cut as Arun District Council tries to make £1 million savings.

The cost-cutting drive, which could also involve closing Arundel swimming pool, is part of the council's four-year strategy to cope with rising costs and wages.

The Duke, who is president of the South East England Tourist Board and owner of Goodwood, is contributing towards the

centre's £26,000 annual running costs, which the council says it cannot afford.

He said: "At Goodwood we are very concerned about the possible closure of the centre. Being located on the A27 it is very important to us as many people use it to get directions to Goodwood and book accommodation.

"We are therefore making a contribution towards its cost and I am appealing to other

organisations to join us in saving this valuable facility."

Derek Whittaker and the

council's tourism manager Richard Edwards are backing the campaign.

Mr Whittaker said: "While we value the Fontwell centre and the dedication of its staff, the enquiries it generates are from a very much wider base than Arun alone and you would hope the tourism industry providers

recognise this and will support the appeal to keep the facility open."

The centre deals with 25,000 visitor enquiries a year and opened in 1989 and is the only one on the east-west trunk road between Clackett Lane on the M25 and Rownhams on the M27.

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