Closing tourist office is step backwards - Bruce

3.14.05pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 28th Aug 2007

Inverurie has the potential to be a tourist centre for the North East

Local MP Malcolm Bruce has criticised the decision to close the Inverurie Tourist Information Centre during the winter months. Describing the move as a 'huge setback' for the area, Mr Bruce has written to the area director of VisitScotland in Aberdeen to ask them to reconsider their decision.

Commenting Mr Bruce said:

"In all the years that I have represented Inverurie in Parliament, its outstanding qualities as an attractive, historic and welcoming town have made me extremely proud to do so. Inverurie has the potential to become an excellent base for exploring Aberdeenshire, which more and more tourists will do each year with the continued development of the airport.

"The winter closure of the tourist centre can only be seen as a huge setback to any future development of the tourist industry both in the town and the local area which I have long campaigned for. I sincerely hope that VisitScotland will change its mind on this and avoid taking a step backwards."