BURNHAM is facing the summer season without a tourist information centre as talks to reinstate it continue.

The town has been without a tourist centre since October when the One Place Community Centre, in High Street, which provided the services closed down after Maldon District Council withdrew funding.

Last year the Standard revealed the town would be without an information centre until the spring.

But at a meeting of Burnham Town Council last week it was revealed talks were still ongoing more than seven months later.

It has been proposed that the town council and Maldon District Council provide a tourist information centre on a 75 per cent – 25 per cent split partnership.

The issue was discussed in private after councillors agreed to exclude the public and press from the meeting.

Town Mayor Ron Pratt said: “I’m very keen to have members of the council involved in tourism, but currently it is very commercially sensitive, so we cannot discuss it at this time.”

Penny Channer, chairman of Maldon District Council’s Planning and Licensing Committee, confirmed the councils were working together to find a resolution.

She said: “The council is actively working to secure a premises in Burnham on Crouch for the provision of a local Tourist Information Office.

“It is intended that the town council will be a partner in the provision of this important local service.

“A full announcement will be made following the conclusion of negotiations between interested parties.”

But residents have pleaded for the tourist information centre to be restored.

Daniela Forshaw, owner of Daniela’s Dogs in the town, said: “A tourist centre would be useful for my clients. I have people travelling to me for my services from all over London, wider parts of Essex, Surrey, Hertfordshire, and even Devon.

“I'm always looking for "list of things to do in and around Burnham".”

Burnham resident Mojay Ryan said: “Why did the old one have to go if we are to have another one? Why get rid of one just to open another? It’s very confusing.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “It seems there is not a dedicated knot of people committed to helping tourism of the town currently, either that or they’re not doing a brilliant job.

“Even if it’s just two or three people committed to raising Burnham’s profile and helping out residents with information it would make a huge difference to strengthening its profile.”