AFTER several year’s absence, Coleford has a new dedicated Tourist Information Centre, open in time for Easter and the start of the tourist season.

The office, in Lords Hill, just opposite the Police Station, is being funded by the Town Council and will be staffed by a pool of 25 volunteers.

Nick Penny, Coleford’s deputy mayor, said: “We felt there was a need for a new TIC to help attract visitors to Coleford and the rest of the Forest and Wye Valley area.

“The old TIC run by the district council was closed some years ago due to spending cuts and was replaced by a display of leaflets in the council headquarters.”

The formal ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Tourist Information Centre office was conducted by the town’s mayor, Councillor Paul Kay with Maureen McAllister from the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism Association.

Mark Terry-Lush, director of Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Tourism. said: “This is an excellent initiative by Coleford Town Council.

“As a partner of the TIC, the tourism association will continue to support their work because it is good for the town, great for local businesses and an excellent resource for tourists visiting the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.“The TIC is a gateway for information and should bring tourists into Coleford.

Alan Myatt, Gloucester’s town crier was brought in to publicise the opening of the new TIC building.