Council seeking views on private-sector deal to run visitor attraction
Nicholas Thomas, local democracy reporter
Visitors to a popular attraction are being encouraged to share their views on plans to bring in a private-sector firm to run it.
Caerphilly County Borough Council spent £323,000 running Cwmbran Forest Drive last year and has warned previously the site may “not be financially viable in the long-term”.
In July this year, following behind-closed-doors talks with landowners Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the council said it was exploring whether a deal with a commercial developer could “enhance” the attraction for visitors and remove the council’s costs.
‘Committed’
At the time, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, the cabinet member for regeneration, said the council was “committed to securing the future viability of Cwmcarn Forest Drive”.
“This partnership agreement will allow us to explore exciting new opportunities for the facility,” he added. “I want to assure the community that the site is not under threat.
“Indeed, we are looking to enhance and improve this much-loved attraction by exploring new options to attract even more people to Cwmcarn Forest Drive.”
Those comments were echoed by NRW’s head of south east operations, Steve Morgan, who said a deal with a commercial partner could “further enhance the site, so it can continue to attract more visitors and be enjoyed by future generations”.
Members of the public can now have their say on those proposals.
Drop in sessions
A series of informal drop-in sessions will be held at the Cwmcarn Forest Drive visitor centre later this month.
The dates and times of those sessions are as follows:
Wednesday October 16, 2pm to 4pm.
Sunday October 20, 10am to 12pm.
Friday October 25, 10am to 12pm.
Residents who have any specific requirements such as access, hearing loop, require translation facilities or wish to use the Welsh language at any of the drop-in sessions are asked to contact the team at [email protected] or by calling 01443 864354.
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So there is a visitor attraction that is acting as a drain on the Council’s finances. The solution, it seems, is to pass it to the profitizers and they will magically make it ‘viable’ and extract a load of cash. Underneath the ‘gloss’ is usually some form of exploitation, probably of the staff and increased costs for visitors. Surely there are many better answers. Anybody for a Community Interest not for profit Co-operative partially run by volunteers? That at least would address the cost problems and reduce exploitation.
there probably is a case in what you are saying but the council would still have to stump up for repairs and what have you, there`s more to be made by hiving it off to the profitizers they run and pay for it the council gets a cut you can see where it is going Blackwood miners and Llanciach Fawr are due to lose funding and yet they have the gall to pay out £!,000,000 to consultants how to save money