NEWTON Abbot’s Tourist Information Centre will move into the town council’s new home when it opens later this year.

The £2.2m Newton’s Place project, led by Newton Abbot Town Council, aims to preserve the redundant Victorian Grade II-listed St Leonard’s Church building in Wolborough Street by converting it into a new museum, community hub and town council offices.

Once open, it will give the town’s museum a high street location and a much higher profile, create new community rooms for local groups to use, and move the town council offices so they are easier for people to access.

Teignbridge District Council’s executive unanimously agreed to close the TIC in Newton Abbot which operates from the Market Hall and instead move to an ‘Information Point approach’ within Newton’s Place.

The change in service which will see the current walk-in service in Market Hall close, follows a review of how Newton Abbot’s Tourist Information Centre has been working, with the change reflecting both the drop in footfall and the changing habits of those seeking information, with more people accessing traditional tourism information via their phones and online sources.

Cllr Alan Connett, portfolio holder for corporate services, said it was a ‘win for Newton Abbot and a win for the town council’.

He added: ‘The town council welcome the approach and there will be a saving to the council in the budget. This investment will support the town council maintain their investment in the town, and drive people to Newton’s Place.’

As part of the proposal, Teignbridge would provide the town council with funding for the purchase of a touch screen and for the production of up to date maps, as well as supporting Visit South Devon and its online promotion and marketing.

The district council will spend up to £10,000 on a new screen and digital maps, after which there will be no further cost to them, and the meeting heard that Newton’s Place was considered to be a suitable location for an Information Point for visitors and locals.

Leader of the council, Cllr Gordon Hook, added: ‘This is a good news story and is an additional boost to Newton’s Place with the town waiting expectantly for it. It promises much and will deliver much, and the TIC there can only be helpful.’

From Monday, March 16, staff will begin to move out of the old Town Hall in Devon Square and into the new premises at Newton’s Place, Wolborough Street, which both buildings closed to the public from that date and until further notice.