Sheringham Tourist Information Centre handed over to North Norfolk Railway attraction
Handover of the Sheringham Tourist Information Centre from North Norfolk District Council to North Norfolk Railway. Pictured from left Judy Oliver, Tom Fitzpatrick, Trevor Eady and Hugh Harkett. Picture: MARK BULLIMORE
Visitors will have greater access to Tourist Information Centre advice in a coastal resort after a heritage railway attraction took over the service.
North Norfolk Railway (NNR) now owns the information base in Sheringham, which is on the station platform and was formerly run by North Norfolk District Council.
It used to be open April to October but NNR general manager Trevor Eady hopes the centre, staffed by new railway employees, will stay open longer throughout the year.
Demolition work of the current building, which includes public toilets dating back to the 1980s, is due to start next month.
It is hoped the new Tourist Information Centre (TIC), including a new railway shop and toilets, will reopen on April 1 next year - close to the current building.
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Temporary toilets have been set up by the district council in the nearby Station Approach car park while work is under way.
The building will be in a similar style to the vintage railway attraction, which runs to Holt via Weybourne.
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Mr Eady said: 'The toilets will be a refreshing change. With the TIC being open all year round, that will be a benefit to local tourism.'
One benefit from the new TIC is it will increase the number of toilets for women.
The station's indoor buffet eating area, which has about eight tables, will be doubled in size as part of the redevelopment.
Mr Eady added: 'Our own passengers will get the benefit of a much more attractive buffet facility.'
He said it was also hoped a traditional footbridge would be built connecting the two Sheringham platforms by the time the TIC reopens.
That timescale is dependant on the design being given the go-ahead.
The structure will cost between £40,000-£50,000, raised through donations.
The TIC redevelopment project has been paid for by a £450,000 government Coastal Communities Fund.
It will also receive £152,000 from the district council for the build.
The district council employed three people at the old TIC, two of whom have gone to the Cromer and Holt TICs.
NNR will employ new staff for the information hub and finance the building.
The handover will save the district council £210,000 between next year and 2021.
