THE Heart of England Tourist Board is to be invited to hold its annual meeting in Redditch in a bid to attract more tourism to the area.

The conference will cost the borough council £600 in hospitality for the delegates which may include a coach trip to the Forge Mill Museum and Bordesley Abbey. But as the money will come out of the council’s contingency fund, some councillors were opposed to what they believed to be extravagant spending.

Council amenities officer John Carle said he thought the meeting on June 29 could attract related business to the area, like tour operators and coach companies.

Tory leader Pat Wilson said she did not believe Redditch was naturally attractive for tourism but more of a commercial attraction.