Over 200 people attended the public meeting at Neuadd y Pentref in Ganllwyd, Meirionnydd to show their support to the UK's first purpose-built mountain bike centre.
Coed y Brenin visitor centre in Ganllwyd near Dolgellau opened in 1996 and concerns had been raised that Natural Resource Wales (NRW) was currently reviewing the future of the site and two other visitor centres across north and mid Wales.
At the meeting organised by Ganllwyd Community Council and the local County Councillor for the area, Delyth Lloyd Griffiths, NRW spokesperson, Elsie Grace said that a new way of working will need to be found to ensure the long term sustainability of the centre itself, as funding revenues for all public bodies were being squeezed.
The Head of Sustainable Commercial Development for NRW said, however, that there were no plans to close Coed y Brenin visitor centre and that private companies or community led organisations would probably need to be sought to take over the running of the café and the building in due course.
Coed y Brenin has since long established itself as a fantastic base, providing services to help local people and visitors make the most of their time enjoying the huge network of world-class mountain bike trails located in the forest.
Plaid Cymru’s Gwynedd Councillor for the area, Delyth Lloyd Griffiths said: “We know that 100,000 visitors come to Coed y Brenin every year and economically that has a positive impact on a rural, sparsely populated area like Meirionnydd.
“The centre employs 20 people making Coed y Brenin a fundamentally important employer to Gwynedd.
“We are extremely grateful to local people, the biking community, partners and supporters for attending the public meeting last week. It was a positive meeting with people given the opportunity to share their views and concerns.
“The Community Council had been extremely busy organising the event, and the spokespeople invited to share their views were well received. Thank you to everyone involved.
“Now the hard work really begins. We will now await Natural Resources Wales’ review findings and crucially, the financial details, in the coming months. We will then be able to continue the discussion and see how NRW progress the site and safeguard the location for the local community, for Gwynedd economy, the biking community and for the next generation.
At the meeting, it was clear to see that there was also overwhelming support for NRW to invest in the bike tracks, with complaints voiced that no general maintenance and safeguarding of the tracks had been carried out over a number of years.
“How all that was discussed at the meeting can be achieved, is for everyone involved to continue the discussion led by NRW and work together,” concluded Cllr Delyth Lloyd Griffiths.
Speakers at the meeting included Cllr Delyth Lloyd Griffiths, Senedd Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Mabon ap Gwynfor; Dafydd Caradog Davies MBE, founder of Coed y Brenin bike tracks; local biker, Rhys Llywelyn and Natural Resources of Wales Head of Sustainable Commercial Development, Elsie Grace.
Showing 1 reaction
Sign in with
Sign in with Facebook Sign in with Twitter