A TOURIST information centre which was axed is to be replaced by a partnership with a guided walks company.

Northumberland National Park Authority closed its visitor centre at Rothbury at the end of the 2012 tourist season owing to budget cuts.

It is now to be replaced by a joint venture involving the authority and Shepherds Walks, run by Rothbury-based couple Jon and Jane Monks at Kirkharle.

The prospect of a continued visitor service was last night warmly welcomed in the village.

The authority announced three years ago it would be ceasing to operate the site and that at Ingram – both of which have won awards – as Government funding cuts left it unable to afford to run them.

However, it announced in October that efforts to find partners to take them over from this year had failed, meaning they would not be reopening.

In December it emerged the authority was in advanced talks with an unnamed party over a new visitor service in the closed centre’s Church House base, which the organisation still owns and where some of its staff are based.

It has now been confirmed that Shepherds Walks is to move into the space formerly occupied by the visitor centre, alongside a branded National Park information point.

Mr Monks, who also runs Capricorn Mohair Socks from his Kirkharle Courtyard base, last night said he had been interested in the site for over a year.

His business runs the Rothbury Walking Festival – working with the authority, and promotes countless walks in the area, meaning Mr Monks believes it is ideally suited to host the information point.

The former Rothbury Business Club chairman said: “We are very happy, it is perfect. It is very good for us.

“I think we are looking forward to working with the national park and hoping to showcase what this region has to offer.”

Mr Monks said he would be retaining the Kirkharle unit in the short term but that he may operate solely from Rothbury in the future.

Rothbury councillor Steven Bridgett said: “Jon and his family live in Rothbury so I am pleased they will now also have the opportunity to locate their business within the valley.

“This is a fantastic opportunity not only for them but for Coquetdale as we will see an information service continued within the Coquetdale Centre, I wish them the very best of luck.”

Meanwhile, information seen by The Journal reveals that the authority has been approached by a party who is interested in developing a business in the Ingram building that would incorporate visitor information and interpretation.

The authority has agreed to explore “this potentially exciting new option.”

Tony Gates, chief executive of the authority, said: “We are delighted to announce a partnership that will safeguard visitor information in the North of the National Park, and particularly in Coquetdale.

“Shepherds Walks is an excellent business with a wide knowledge of the national park and a practical interest in its development.”