VOLUNTEERS at Frome Tourist Information Centre (TIC) have spoken of their anger at being dropped as part of measures to save the service.

More than 20 unpaid members of staff will lose their positions at Frome TIC when the town council takes it over on 1st April.

The 24 volunteers, who have run the facility on a job-share basis for 13 years, say they do not see why they cannot keep their roles.

One volunteer, who declined to be named, said: "We love our jobs and we're terribly upset. We all have wonderful local knowledge. We have been a role model for other TICs in the area who have come to us for advice.

"Will the new facility be able to offer the same level of service to taxpayers as we do?"

The town council has confirmed it will take on four paid members of staff from the TIC in a move that will combine council services with tourism information services at the Round Tower at Bridge Street.

The volunteer added: "The council says it cannot take us on because it cannot mix volunteers with paid staff, but we know that this arrangement already exists within other areas of council management. We feel decisions have been taken that we don't understand."

The town council's take over of the TIC follows Mendip District Council's withdrawal of funding from the service last year.

Sue Wilthew, town council chief executive, said the new management system would provide a far more financially secure future for the centre.

"We will not have to rely on continual grants and we will be able to provide a good information service – essentially a one-stop-shop for people looking for advice on everything from their weekly rubbish collections to activities to do at weekends. Effectively, the town council's front-of-house will move to the Round Tower."

She added that, regrettably, the council could not take on 24 volunteers.

"The members of staff we do take on will need to be trained to manage the various new aspects of the job in order for us to provide this range of services, which we cannot do with 24 members of staff.

"We are not cutting a charitable organisation – the TIC has been run by a not-for-profit company and some of the volunteers only work for a few hours a month."

Mrs Wilthew said that the volunteers had played a fantastic role but times had changed and retaining their positions would not make ends meet.

Laura Male

lmale@bvmedia.co.uk