Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Mabon ap Gwynfor has called on the Welsh government step in to safeguard the future of renowned mountain biking centre, Coed y Brenin.
Speaking in the Senedd ahead of a protest rally at Coed y Brenin this weekend, Mr ap Gwynfor called on the Welsh Government to provide the necessary £1.2 million to Natural Resources Wales to maintain all their centres for this year to give time for those willing to take over the sites to put together their business plans.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS said:
Wales has shown vision and leadership that has given rise to an industry that is now worth hundreds of millions of pounds to the British economy, namely downhill mountain biking. Because it can be said that this started at the magnificent Coed y Brenin centre, near Ganllwyd in Meirionnydd. If you haven't been there then I would encourage you to visit the place. It is a wonderful place, and it has grown in status and has a reputation that is internationally renowned. According to the Scottish Government, downhill mountain biking contributes up to £150 million to the country's economy. No similar assessment has been made here in Wales yet, but we can be sure that this sector contributes tens of millions of pounds to our economy in Wales.
But the birthplace of this sector, the cradle of a sector, which continues to be a popular attraction, namely Coed y Brenin, is now under threat. When this report was written, there was uncertainty about the future of the visitor centres. Things have now changed, and the body, NRW, is looking to close the visitor centres at Coed y Brenin, Nant yr Arian and Ynyslas, to make savings of £1.2 million in this financial year. Although NRW is looking to close the visitor centres, the truth is that closing the visitor centres would have a detrimental impact on these places as visitor attractions and would affect the maintenance of the trails as well. Although we do not know what the financial value of downhill mountain biking is to the Welsh economy, an assessment has been made of the economic value of these centres to mid Wales, and they contribute up to £67 million to the region's economy.
I understand that NRW is under significant financial pressure, but there are local, experienced, and informed groups that are willing to collaborate with the body to take these assets forward. The trouble is that a very tight timetable has been imposed on NRW, and the staff at the visitor centres will be made unemployed by April. And once this happens, and the centres close, then it will be more difficult to reopen them, and so time is very short.
If we want to protect these pearls that attract so many people, and ensure that they continue to contribute tens of millions of pounds to the region's economy, then the Government must step in. The request that I have for the Cabinet Secretary, is for the Welsh Government to provide the necessary £1.2 million to NRW to maintain the centres for this year, and to give time for these companies to put together their business plans, and to be part of the tendering process, without the centres having to close. I am sure that you would agree that this would be a very small contribution to maintain such valuable attractions.
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