MORECAMBE hoteliers are growing increasingly concerned about the fate of the resort's tourism department. Deputy Town Clerk, Charles Wilson, has refused to rule out the possibility that Morecambe Tourism could be merged with Lancaster at a meeting with Morecambe Hoteliers and Caterers Association. Members questioned Mr Wilson directly about rumours that Morecambe Tourism's days were numbered following the suspension of tourism officers David Christley and Trevor White.

Hotelier Graham Last explained: "He wouldn't give a direct answer which left us all feeling pretty cynical to say the least. There are 5,000 tourism businesses in Morecambe and if we go down the road of one department based in Lancaster all hell will be let loose. Amalgamation of the departments is one thing as long as Morecambe is the base. We are the tourism centre."

Association members also pressed Mr Wilson about the treatment of the suspended tourism officers.

Mr Last added: "The general feeling among members is that the officers have been treated diabolically. Here we are ready for a new season when, for the first time for years, Morecambe will not be blighted by building work and there's no one banging the drum for the resort."

Morecambe Bay Independent group leader, Cllr Tricia Heath, also expressed concerns about resort's future.

She said: "We fear that there's an alternative plan which will effectively make Morecambe a suburb of Lancaster. The number of visitors to Morecambe will always be streets ahead of Lancaster. Morecambe tourists are very different to Lancasters and the resort has specific tourism needs that will be overlooked if there's just one tourism department based in Lancaster."

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