CHERWELL District Council is cutting services at Banbury Museum and the Tourist Information Centre to save hundreds of thousands of pounds, it has been revealed.

Two members of staff have been “redeployed to other council roles” and 13 have had their wages cut.

The council has also decided to close both facilities on Sundays from early September.

Banbury county councillor Surinder Dhesi has called for senior officers at the district council to have their salaries slashed as the recession continued to bite, and not just ordinary workers.

She said: “Fair enough the council is cutting back in the current climate, but I want to know if people at the top will be cutting their salaries, or is it just the wages of people who deal with the public?

“How many top officers are going to have their pay cut to try and save money?

“I think senior officers should set a good example.”

Mrs Dhesi, who is a former Banbury Mayor, also questioned the wisdom of closing the museum and information centre on Sundays, traditionally a busy day for tourists and families looking for something to do.

However, George Reynolds, executive member for community, said the two facilities were ranked “bottom of the pile” by residents during a public consultation last year and Sundays were their least busy day. Visits by schoolchildren during the week ruled out the possibility of closing the museum on any other day, he said.

Ian Davies, strategic director for environment and community, said the cutbacks would secure almost £200,000 savings a year.