Petition is signed by 400 backing Go-Stow (From Cotswold Journal)

Petition is signed by 400 backing Go-Stow

3:00pm Thursday 25th October 2012 in News

“WITHOUT a Visitor Information Centre, Stow will die.”

That is the view of the Stow Civic Society after the owners of the town’s tourist information centre announced they were closing at the beginning of December.

The group launched a petition this week and more than 400 signatures have already been gathered from businesses and residents in support of the independently-run Go-Stow in Talbot Court.

The Journal reported last week that Sue and Walter Hasler made the difficult decision to close their business after they were unable to secure funding from Cotswold District Council or Stow Town Council.

In a statement, the civic society said it was “extremely disappointed” that Go-Stow had not been able to secure funding and they were “taking actions to try to secure its survival”.

“We feel that Go-Stow is a great asset to the town and its loss will be a severe blow to both visitors and residents,” it said.

“The town relies almost entirely on income from its visitors as it has done for centuries, and the name Stow-on-the-Wold is known throughout the world. Visitors express amazement that it should be left without an information office, and are full of praise for Go-Stow.”

Mr Hasler said: “We are overwhelmed with the reaction from the public and let’s see where this all leads.”