ROMSEY is facing a double-whammy of business blows after Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) decided to close its visitor information centre.

The town, also faced with the potential closure of its post office, will lose Romsey Visitor Information Centre on Church Street after TVBC confirmed the plans.

The building will be taken over by King John's House (KJH) and will become the entrance to the museum. Plans for the takeover are still being finalised.

King John's House has been approached for comment (Image: Charles Elliman) Councillor Terese Swain, Community, Leisure and Tourism Portfolio Holder, said: “An independent review of tourism in Test Valley, conducted in 2023, highlighted that tourism and customer behaviours are changing, and more people are planning visits online.

"As a result, the review concluded that we can enhance our tourism offer by investing in digital marketing as a more effective way to attract visitors to Test Valley.

"In addition, the current visitor information centre will become the first of our new Tourist Information Point (TIP), hosted by King John’s House.”

The councillor continued: "KJH will be one of nine proposed TIP sites located in existing businesses across Test Valley that will signpost and assist visitors, providing access to digital information and a streamlined leaflet offer.

"This will enable us to expand our reach and promote tourism more effectively across the whole borough.  

Councillor Terese Swain, Community, Leisure and Tourism Portfolio Holder (Image: LDR) "The existing financial support package for KJH was due to end in March 2025, so there was an opportunity to continue to support KJH to expand its current offer, provide wider support for tourism in the area and increase visitors to the museum and tearooms to help secure the future of a key local tourism asset.

"The expansion of KJH will also enable the museum to create a new entrance along Church Street and a better visual link to Romsey Abbey, in turn helping to increase footfall to the attraction.

"The current visitor information centre has in the past sold local concert and event tickets. We will however be selling them in future from the Former Magistrates Court.”  

The interim chair of King John’s House and Tudor Cottage Trust Ltd, John Parker, said: "TVBC working with respected tourism consultants and local stakeholders conducted a review of tourism in Test Valley.

"That study advised that customer behaviours are changing, and more people are planning visits online rather than through VIC.

"TVBC concluded that it could support local tourism better by switching its funding from one VIC in Romsey to digital marketing supported by multiple TIP across Test Valley."

The interim chair continued: "13 Church Street will be one of nine proposed TIP sites located in existing businesses across Test Valley that will signpost and assist visitors, providing access to digital information and a streamlined leaflet offer.

"The premises will be let to KJH to create a new entrance along Church Street attracting more visitors to the Moody Museum, King John’s House, Miss Moody’s tearooms and the historic gardens, helping secure the future of this key local tourism asset.

"Further details of KJH plans for 13 Church Street will made available in the near future. KJH will be working with Test Valley, Romsey Town Council, and heritage and culture organisations such as Romsey Abbey, the Plaza Theatre and Romsey Signal Box to ensure that Romsey becomes a key visitor attraction and a positive contributor to the local economy."

Staff members at the building were approached for comment and asserted they would be losing their jobs after only being informed in December.

TVBC said the visitor information centre is managed by Tourism South East, who have a contract with them until March 31.

Tourism South East has been approached for comment.