A GRANT of more than £40,000 will get the new Skipton and Craven Tourist Information Centre (TIC) up and running.

Craven District Council has dug deep in its pockets to come up with the £43,500 grant - £14,500 each year for three years. At the moment it is the main financial backer of the TIC in Coach Street.

However, even with this support, the centre is expected to run at a loss of over £10,000 for the next three years. Salaries and stock will be the main costs.

Leader of the centre's steering group Anne Hadaway said this forecast was only based on one grant from Craven District Council and she was confident that other funding would come in from the public and private sector to make up the shortfall.

Since the former TIC went into receivership in September, the steering group has found new premises in Coach Street and drawn up a business plan.

Mrs Hadaway said that the need for a new centre was unquestionable, with 203,732 people visiting the old TIC in 1999/2000, and that it had a vital role to play in supporting the region's tourism industry.

Statistically, in terms of numbers and turnover, tourism was now a larger industry than agriculture within the Yorkshire Dales, she added.

The new TIC should be operational by April. The business plan states that it will be run by a full time manager, two part-time information assistants and a band of volunteers.

The salary for the post of centre manager will be between £12,000 and £14,000 per annum.

At Skipton Town Council's tourism committee meeting last week, members agreed to give a grant of £2,000 towards the TIC's start up costs, but were reluctant to make any long term commitments.

Other income to cover start up costs have come from the Craven Counts Regeneration Partnership, Skipton Chamber of Trade and the Craven Herald's accommodation guide.

The Coach Street premises provide scope for an open plan information and display area, measuring about 330 square feet.

The inner porch will be removed to create space for a public inquiry counter, room for users to browse, and display space. Cupboards and racks from the former TIC will not be used but modern, flexible lightweight systems are expected to make better use of the space.

Directions to the centre will be dotted around the town on the existing wrought iron signposts. Investigations are also being made into putting up signs on the three exposed sides of the TIC building.

The centre will be run as a company limited by guarantee, supported by representatives of both the public and private sector. Limited by guarantee means that there is no share capital and members' liability is restricted to the amount they contributed.

The company's management board will be made up of Craven District Council, Skipton Chamber of Trade, Skipton Town Council, and sponsors who offer more than £5,000.