THE Tourist Information Centre (TIC) is to be axed in April in favour of a much reduced service. The TIC in Cross and Pillory Lane will be closed and a Tourist Information Point (TIP) amalgamated with East Hampshire District Council's Presence Office. But while EHDC is celebrating its cost-cutting, Alton Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) views it as yet another indication of Alton being treated as the poor relative of Petersfield. But EHDC economic development officer Debbie Vodden said the decision to close Alton's TIC has come as the result of a rationalisation exercise which should see the broadening out of the service via a network of TIPs. At the centre of this will be Petersfield TIC which is to act as a hub, managed on behalf of EHDC by Tourism South East, which will deal with complicated enquiries and disperse up-to-date information to the TIP network. But in Alton this will result in a greatly scaled down service with local information only. The booking of coach and bus services, information about other parts of the country, promotion of charity Christmas cards and local produce, will all go in a move which will also result in job loss. Since part of the exercise has been to cut costs, local councillor Tony Ludlow said he will reserve judgement on a scheme that appears to have conflicting interests. He said: "It is discouraging that the report that went to Cabinet was headed 'Improving tourist information services for East Hampshire' and was followed in the second sentence by 'One aim of the review was to identify a cost saving of £30,000'." ACCI president and Alton Initiatives Management (AIM) Ltd chairman, Steve Daley, is not impressed by the decision which, he feels, does not reflect Alton's efforts to promote and market the town. He pointed out that over the past five years independent initiatives by the business community have quadrupled footfall in Alton and that the decision to reduce TIC services could be seen as a lack of support for this achievement. And he invited local business people to voice their opinions and to join ACCI in opposing any reduction in services in the town. In defending the decision, taken at Cabinet on November 28, EHDC's lead councillor for economic development, Ken Moon, is adamant that this plan will put the tourist information service on a firm footing for the future. He said: "A local network of TIPs covering the whole district means that we will continue to support the tourism industry in East Hampshire, a valuable part of the local economy. "It will also give support to vital businesses, such as village post offices. An additional benefit is that people will have better access to information about what to see and do in the area." From April next year TIPs will be in council offices, visitor attractions, post offices and shops in towns and villages across East Hampshire. As well as improving access, this is expected to have the added benefit of supporting communities, including village post offices. In Alton the TIC and EHDC will merge to provide a single information point, based in Cross and Pillory Lane.