A MALVERN think-tank is calling on local councillors to reverse a decision to move the town's tourist information centre.

Malvern Hills District Council last year agreed to move the centre from its current premises near the top of Church Street into a proposed new building at the council office in Avenue Road.

But High Street Malvern says the move will lose the town centre a large proportion of the 70,000 visitors who come to the centre annually.

And it has identified a number of other options for the centre's future. These include: *Leaving it where it is. This could include upgrading the on-line options available, and sharing the space with another agency such as the National Trust.

*Moving to one of the currently empty shop units in the town centre.

*Approaching existing shops or businesses to see it they have any spare accommodation.

*Moving it to Malvern Priory, where it could share space with the Priory shop.

*Moving it to the Lyttelton Rooms.

*Moving it to the Grange in Grange Road, which has been empty for three years.

"All the alternatives are better in that they retain the visitors in the town centre for the benefit of local shops," says a statement issued by High Street Malvern..

"The current proposals should be put on display for comment by the public, and the district council should be prepared to modify their plans accordingly.

"All the issues have serious repercussions for the residents, traders and visitors to the town and everyone should be given the opportunity to comment.

"Herefordshire County Council closed all their visitor centres some years ago and are now planning to reintroduce them as a way of promoting tourism."

"70,000 visitors use the centre each year; in addition to getting information about the town and area, they go into nearby shops; this will result in a major loss of business for the town centre at a time when other shops and banks are closing."