Chipping Sodbury Tourist Information Centre to close for £8,600 refurbishment

The centre has been awarded £8,600 through the 'Awards for All' scheme to improve storage and display equipment and to create a more comfortable environment for customers and volunteers.

The centre first opened in March 1995 and the volunteers are welcoming the changes that will be made over the six week refurbishment scheme.

Vice chairman of the management committee, Julie Law, said: “We applied for the grant quite a long time ago and a lot of hard work and paperwork went into receiving it.

“We received it in May this year and we are extremely as it will help refurbish the centre and update it.

“The centre will have a new desk, racking, display units and more shelving. The grant money will generally help to display more things and make everything more accessible.”

The grant money will also be used to create a new website for the centre which will promote the area and inform both residents and visitors of what Chipping Sodbury, Yate and the surrounding area has to offer.

The National Lottery ‘Awards for All’ scheme funds projects by awarding grants of between £300 and £10,000 to address the issues, needs and aspirations of local communities and people.

The centre, in The Clock Tower on the High Street, will close on Saturday, December 20 for several weeks for the necessary work to be carried out without disruption to customers and volunteers.

It will reopen on Monday, February 2 when work is finished.

Mrs Law added: “We will be closed for this time so we can get the work done and sort out everything in time to open it, nice and fresh, for customers in February.”

The centre is also planning to celebrate its 20th anniversary in March 2015.

The centre will be responding to emails during the closure, if you would like display posters or contact the centre call: 01454 888686, email: chippingsodburytic.gmail.com or post through their letter box.