SETTLE Tourist Information Centre Limited will be looking back on a busy year when it holds its first annual general meeting later this month.

The non-profit making centre is now organised with a paid manager and a board of directors - a structure which has proved successful, and may even be used as a model for Skipton's new TIC.

Contrary to popular opinion, Settle's TIC is not part of the regional tourist board and is not run by Craven District Council.

In fact, just five per cent of its funding comes from local authority grants and small donations from parish councils. The rest has to be raised by retailing and sponsorship, and the centre is always on the lookout for more revenue, particularly as it is looking at ways of expanding its service.

"Although we do a lot, we do want to do more but we need more support to do that," said director Tom Algie, of the Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Trust.

Centre manager Yvonne Fortune stressed the importance of TICs throughout the Yorkshire Dales working together to promote the area. Settle TIC is already working closely with the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which has information centres throughout the area.

This need for close co-operation was also highlighted when Skipton TIC went into liquidation and Settle stepped into the breach to deal with inquiries.

"The main thing was we were getting information out to the public, so from their point of view there was no break between Skipton and Settle. We have always worked together with Skipton, but we are now putting it on a more semi-formal basis," said Yvonne.

Settle TIC is the only one in Craven open seven days a week, and it has more than 30 volunteers. It is not only there for visitors either - it has plenty of information for local residents and is often the first port of call for people looking to move into the area.

The AGM takes place on Wednesday January 31 at 1.30pm in the council chamber.

Picture by andy Garbutt shows Yvonne fortune with TIC secretary Jeanne Carr, Yorkshire Dales National Park information assistant Catherine Bristow, director Tom Algie and chairman and treasurer Ron Maude.