The future of Abergavenny's tourist information centre is up in the air as Monmouthshire County Council and Brecon Beacons National Park Authority seek ways to slash their annual budgets.

The information centre, next to the town's bus station, is currently run in partnership by the two authorities.

But BBNPA says it is consulting its staff on a number of cost-cutting proposals including withdrawing its funding from the centre - while Mon CC is to consider the possibility of moving the service to Abergavenny Castle.

Rumours that the centre might be facing closure prompted one Chronicle reader to write a letter urging local residents to launch a petition.

"If the centre was to close we would lose a worthwhile resource for both tourists and locals and a wealth of local knowledge by people employed there," she said.

"Where would visitors find information about places to stay, fabulous walks and numerous facilities in the area? We are the 'Gateway to Wales'."

Without the centre she feared Abergavenny would become 'a 'drive-through town where people don't stop to shop or have a coffee'.

"Please petition the relevant authorities to give the information centre in our town your support. We must not lose it!" she said.

An MCC spokesman, however, was quick to allay any such fears.

"We are determined that Abergavenny will continue to host a full tourist information service," he said.

"But, because of the £9 million cut in our budget for next year, we are exploring more cost effective ways of delivering the service – which is currently delivered in partnership with the Brecon Beacons National Park.  

"We are therefore looking at moving the current tourist information centre to Abergavenny Castle and combining it with the town museum.

"We have obviously been working closely with the Brecon Beacons National Park – who face budget challenges of their own – and will make a final decision as part of the authority's overall budget process at the end of February."

The county's other tourist information centres in Monmouth and Chepstow have already seen changes in their format - with the former moving into the Shire Hall and the latter being put on a more commercial footing.

A spokesperson for BBNPA said that, as a response to the cuts imposed by the Welsh Government, the authority was faced with the need to make savings of more than £650,000 over the next two years. 

"As part of a series of measures, the authority is consulting its staff on a number of proposals including withdrawing its funding from the current Tourist Information Centre in Abergavenny.  

"No public consultation can be progressed until a final decision is made by the National Park Authority in February 2014. However the authority is still in discussions with Monmouthshire County Council in the hope of providing an alternative tourist information provision in the town."  

She said the decision to withdraw the authority's contribution to the centre was based on the understanding that Monmouthshire County Council was exploring the option of combining the TIC service in Abergavenny with the museum service at the castle, as a way of sustaining both services in the future.    

"Currently the TIC has an expenditure in excess of £83,000 and the authority shares these running costs with Monmouthshire County Council

"With more than 52,000 visits every year however, the authority understands that the Tourism Information Centre plays a pivotal role in ensuring access to local visitor information."

She added, "The authority is keen to work with Mon CC and other organisations and bodies to explore options to fill the funding gap in the hope of finding a solution which will provide a tourist information service in a cost effective and sustainable way."