SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has expressed concern about the knock on effect if three popular visitor centres are closed in Wales.
Mr Rowlands, Chair of the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on Outdoor Activity, was speaking in the Senedd during a member’s debate, which he co-sponsored on Natural Resources Wales’s ‘Case for Change’.
During the debate concern was raised over the cuts at Natural Resources Wales and there were calls to speed up the process of ensuring the preservation of the visitor centres at Coed y Brenin, Nant yr Arian and Ynyslas.
Mr Rowlands said: “As has already been outlined by others, there are concerns about the knock-on effects of the closure of these sites on the local economy in particular, of those areas, and jobs.
“We must remember that the sector that it’s most likely to impact is the outdoor activity sector, and it’s really significant. It contributes around £1.6 billion a year to the economy here in Wales, supporting around 31,000 jobs.
“By no means are those three centres completely responsible for all of that, but it certainly sends a message to the sector as to the value with which it’s held here in Wales. And we know that the value of the outdoors to all of our lives, and our mental health value in particular is significantly important.
“I was just reading a recent report that showed that, if there was a 10% increase in people accessing these types of spaces, it would save the NHS £200 million a year alone on physical and mental health needs. So, it is really significant.
“As pointed out there is also the impact to the tourism industry and to visitors here in Wales ,and to local people in those communities around those areas who like to access those spaces, and we need to make sure that they are properly supported.
“As chair of the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on Outdoor Activity, I do regularly hear about the great work that the sector provides in Wales, and the sector wants to be the best in the world. Outdoor activity in Wales is highly sought after and must remain such, and the centres that are going to be closed are an important part of outdoor activity attractions here in Wales.”
Huw Irranca-Davies, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change said. NRW’s proposals were introduced to reshape the organisation and address a substantial funding gap for the coming year.
The motion was lost with 22 In favour, no abstentions, and 24 against.
