A visitor information centre has been saved from closure after the council secured an extension to the lease but jobs remain at risk.

The Droit House Visitor Information Centre in Margate was due to close next month but will now stay open for another year while Thanet District Council continues to review its tourism services.

A council spokesman confirmed Droit House is not closing but added the council is looking at ways to address "serious financial pressures".

The centre was due to close on April 22 but TDC faced a backlash over its decision.

The council spokesman said: "We can’t comment on the specific staffing matters, what we can confirm is that the Visitor Information Centre at Droit House is not closing.

"We have secured an additional year on the lease for the Droit House to ensure that it remains open. During this time we will have discussions about how we will deliver visitor information in the future.

"Tourism is an integral part of our ongoing success as a destination.

"We are currently in the process of reviewing how we will continue to deliver this in the future to ensure this remains a successful part of our local economy. This is in the wider context of the council facing serious financial pressures.

"We will be meeting with the chief executive of Visit Kent to explore our options and continue to work closely with our partners to support Margate hosting the prestigious Turner Prize later this year."

Thanet's tourism economy is estimated to be worth £319m with the latest figures from Visit Kent showing 4.2 million people came to the district in 2017.

The total number of jobs supported by tourism rose by 8.7% to 7,950, with the industry accounting for an impressive 19% of all employment across Thanet.

Cllr Iris Johnston (Lab), a former TDC cabinet member responsible for tourism and chair of tourist board British Destinations, says she believes "public outcry" convinced the council to rethink.

She is also calling for funding earmarked to refurbish TDC's offices to be reallocated to support tourism in Thanet.

At Thursday's full council meeting, Cllr Johnston will ask cabinet member for coastal development, Cllr Ash Ashbee (Con), to reverse the £3 million set aside to refurbish the council offices in Margate or find a new home.

Cllr Johnston, who represents Margate Central ward, says while it may not be legally possible, she feels it is "worth investigating".

"The £3m allocated in the budget for upgrading or moving staff out of the Cecil Street offices is capital spend which normally couldn’t be used for revenue.

"However the government has loosened rules on this. I have spoken to a finance officer who doesn’t feel TDC could use any of the money for revenue in this instance but I still feel it is worth investigating.

"The amount would have to be allocated to ensure at least three years of support."

TDC says it has a responsibility to make sure its offices are "fit for both public and officer use" with the 1970s building beginning to "show signs of deterioration".

A spokesman said: "Continuing to put off addressing the issues with the building will inevitably lead to even greater costs further down the line. This provision of £3m indicated in the budget is just that, a provision, rather than a confirmed total spend at this stage.

"We want to look at a range of potential decisions regarding the office building and this will include undertaking a full independent assessment of the most pragmatic options available to the council.

"This could mean moving to a smaller space, refurbishing the existing space or a combination of the two.

"Spend on local everyday services is funded by things like council tax and fees and charges.

"Major works such as this are provided for separately under the council’s capital Programme which is for longer term asset related activity - and represents one off costs."

Cllr Johnston hit out at plans to replace staff on beaches to deal with public safety measures employed by Your Leisure with volunteers in another cost-cutting move.

"It's absolutely crazy. The beach inspectors and those responsible for tannoy announcements including dealing with lost children and public safety matters must be properly vetted and police checked," Cllr Johnston added.

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