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Rent-hike tourist centre closure confirmed

Ed Hanson,in Keswickand
Federica Bedendo,North East and Cumbria
BBC The Lake District National Park Authority tourist office at Moot Hall. It is on the ground floor of the sandstone building and has a green gate in front of the door. Two people are walking into the building. Green noticeboards flank the central doorway, each containing posters. There are two large black litter bins either side and wooden benches in front of the building.BBC
Moot Hall has been the home of Keswick's tourist centre for about 25 years

A tourist information centre hit by a hike in rent is due to shut, leaving a visitor hotspot without a service.

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) confirmed it is closing its centre in Keswick on 31 January with seven members of staff at risk of redundancy.

The authority blamed budget cuts and an "unsustainable" rent rise at its Moot Hall base, but one Keswick resident branded the closure "stupid".

Sarah Calderbank, head of communications at the LDNPA, said: "This is not the outcome the authority wanted and we will continue to search for alternative premises."

She said there was a potential option to "retain a presence" in Moot Hall with agreement of the incoming tenant, "however this is not currently confirmed".

It is understood the building, owned by the Battersby Trust, is due to be turned into a cafe.

A general view of Moot Hall in Keswick. It is in the middle of a pedestrian area and has a turret with two sets of steep steps in front of it, each leading up to the central doorway. The brick building also has a black clock with golden numbers and features.
The tourist information centre will shut on 31 January

Gary Lovatt, chairman of Keswick Tourism Association (KTA) said: "We feel it's vital there is a tourist information office here of some type.

"We appreciate things have moved on, we do a lot more digitally, however there are still people that pop in that want to get some directions, they want to get some last minute maps.

"It's really important for the town itself, not just tourism, to have that magnate to bring people in."

A head-and-shoulders picture of Gary Lovatt, chairman of Keswick Tourism Association. He is standing in front of Moot Hall, which is visible in the blurred background. He is bald and has a grey moustache and blue eyes. He is wearing a grey jumper with a white and black pattern. He is looking serious at the camera.
Gary Lovatt said KTM was in early talks with the LDNPA about an alternative provision

He said KTA was in early talks with the LDNPA to see if they could support them in finding a solution, but that it was sad the news coming just days after it was announced Keswick would host the start of stage two of the Tour de France in 2027.

He added: "Things change, things move on, we all accept that. That's life, so we need to adjust and adapt."

A head-and-shoulder image of Jenny Stokes. She. She has short grey hair and wears glasses with a dark rim. She is wearing a blue puffer jacket with a white neckerchief with a pastel pattern. She is standing in the pedestrian area in Keswick.
Resident Jenny Stokes described the closure as "just awful" and "stupid"

Resident Jenny Stokes said the news of the closure was a "disaster" and the centre was a "real hub".

"It's been part of Keswick for so long," she said.

"It's just awful, it's the end of an era and all the visitors go there, I can't believe they can do anything quite so stupid.

"And to change it into another cafe is unbelievable."

Building owner The Battersby Trust has been approached for comment.

It previously said the information centre's rent had not risen since 2001 and, as a charity, it had to seek "best value" for its beneficiaries.

Built in 1813, Moot Hall is Grade II listed and has been used as a market, a court house and a museum over the years.

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