MELROSE Community Council has expressed its disappointment following reports that the town’s tourist information centre is under-threat.

Earlier this month, the Border Telegraph reported VisitScotland was carrying out a nationwide review of its properties.

And downward trends in both footfall and bookings at the five TICS in the Borders - Jedburgh, Hawick, Melrose, Kelso and Peebles - has put their long-term futures at risk.

Melrose TIC, which is based next to the Abbey, only welcomed 8,117 visitors during 2014/15 - almost half of the 15,312 from the previous year.

But, speaking at this month’s meeting of Melrose Community Council, community councillor Val Miller claimed it was “unfair” to read too much into the figures while the tourist office was “hidden” in its temporary home.

She revealed she had hoped it would return to Abbey House, after Historic Scotland completed essential repairs, “bigger and better”.

Ms Miller said: “It seems very strange when they are advertising so many things to do in the Borders and continue hiding the tourist office.” And she added: “It seems unfair to say that the numbers are down when it is based on last two years.”

The community council heard a new electronic information panel with details of local attractions is to be installed in Melrose town centre, along with another at the new rail terminus in Tweedbank, to point visitors in the right direction.

But not everyone was impressed with a similar machine already in operation at the Transport Interchange in Galashiels.

David Langworth, chairman of Melrose Paths Group, said: “With the railway and more people coming, we definitely need a tourist office in Melrose.”

It is estimated that tourism contributes £187 million to the region and supports around 5,000 jobs.

Provost William Windram admitted it was “not entirely satisfactory” to only learn of the threat through reading the paper.

Paula McDonald, VisitScotland’s regional director for the Scottish Borders, told the Border Telegraph: “The way that visitors access information about Scotland has changed dramatically with many moving away from the traditional channels in favour of online and mobile.

“VisitScotland needs to ensure that we respond quickly to those changes.

“In looking at the future of information provision, we are reviewing the ways in which we provide information across all our channels in line with customer demands and trends.”