PRESSURE is mounting on council bosses to make public plans which could see the closure of a tourist information centre.

Lewes District Council has drawn up plans to sell off 49 sites for development, with the tourist office in the High Street and public toilets in Western Road under consideration, The Argus understands.

Council chiefs say no decision has yet been made but the “secrecy” surrounding the list of possible sites has been criticised.

Travel and tourism writer and campaigner Chris Smith, said the public should be consulted on the matter.

Mr Smith, author of the Travel Log Lewes website, said: “Tourism in Lewes depends on a good tourism office. There’s nowhere else they can put it. I think it would be hugely damaging for it to close, a huge blow to the economy. It’s an industry we’re reliant on more and more, with huge numbers of businesses.

“It shows a complete lack of long-term thinking. Yet nobody can have a dialogue about the plans because no-one knows what they are.”

Last month The Argus revealed Brighton developer Karis was behind a major project to build 450 homes across the district. The Argus understands nine are in Lewes most in Newhaven, with some in Seaford and Peacehaven.

Conran and Partners and Southern Housing Group are also partners in the scheme.

The council has not yet made the locations of the sites public, citing contractual agreements, with the individual developments still subject to planning permission and public consultation.

But an independent town councillor, campaigning against the sell-off of the public toilets, said he was told by a council officer the plans were “too far down the line” to be reversed.

Lewes town councillor Stephen Caitlin said: “It’s time the ‘49 sites’ was properly debated and scrutinised by the full council because it does not seem to be open or transparent.

“Surely it’s time for the list to be made public.”

Coun Caitlin added: “So great is the need for housing this will only contribute the effect of a pinprick.

“There will be some affordable housing but what good is that at 80% of market value? What Lewes really needs is social housing.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Lewes District Council is committed to making sure we remain a vibrant and attractive destination for visitors.

“We are looking to improve and modernise the services on offer to further enhance the strong visitor economy that results in spending of in excess of £50 million a year.

“We have a four year Tourism Strategy that seeks to plan the future of visitor services provision across the district. No decision has been taken on the future of individual Tourist Information Centres.”