NRW Plan to Close Visitor Centres 

NRW have indicated their intent to shut the visitor centres at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Ynyslas and Coed y Brenin. These centres provide an important part of the visitor experience and for many, support their ability to access the outdoors for the good of their physical and mental health.  Closure of the centres will be an enormous blow to users and the local community. The land managers, NRW are under increasing financial pressure and have now entered into union consultation with staff across their organisation with a view to cutting 265 jobs and saving 13 million pounds by April 2025. 

The centres could close as early as October 2024 and if they are allowed to do so, could quickly be allowed to fall into disrepair and neglect making them much harder to reopen. 

Join us in voicing your opinion that these are valuable resources for our community that need to be kept open and urging NRW to seek a route forward that provides continuity of service at the sites. 

What can you do.

• Share the news and vocalise your support
• Write to your local MP or Senedd member and let them know how vital these centers are to our communities
• Follow the support group campaigns on Facebook and attend public meetings and demos to fight the closures

Campaign groups on Facebook:

Use our campaign toolkit to have your voice heard:

Links/Story

Find out more and catch up on the story via the links below [ if you have other articles or information that you think needs to be linked here, please email mail@carucoedybrenin.org ]

5th October – Hundreds protest over future of visitor centre – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ekplg3p4vo

2^nd October – Cambrian News – Coed y Brenin Centre Visitor centre should be retained, says Snowdonia Society – https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/coed-y-brenin-centre-visitor-centre-should-be-retained-says-snowdonia-society-726358

1^st October – Daily Post – Fate of famous Welsh attractions delayed as opposition grows to closure plans https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/fate-famous-welsh-attractions-delayed-30040406

23^rd September – BBC Wales – Hundreds of watchdog job cuts ‘put nature at risk’

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgvl48jvpqo

16^th September – BBC Wales – Mountain bikers in plea to save visitor centres

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj4dddyn2lro

13^th September – BBC Wales – Strip Wales’ water watchdog of power, say Lib Dems

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnvyv1m4d04o

29 Awst – BBC – Protest yn erbyn cynllun i gau canolfan ymwelwyr Bwlch Nant yr Arian https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/erthyglau/cvgxppz303zo

29^th August – Senedd Petition passes 10,000 landmark

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/xeHFYtRTT3qYTqCE

29^th August 2024 – Cambrian News – Public Meeting at Nant yr Arian https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/huge-turnout-in-bid-to-save-bwlch-nant-yr-arian-717436

28^th August – Nation.Cymru – Campaigners call on NRW to reconsider visitor centre closures https://nation.cymru/news/campaigners-call-on-nrw-to-reconsider-visitor-centre-closures/

22^nd August – Release of ITV program with NRW whistle blowers – NRW Not Really Working https://www.itv.com/walesprogrammes/articles/wales-this-week-nrw-not-really-working

19^th August 2024 – Mid Wales Tourism Leaders call for urgent talks to discuss the closures.

https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/tourism-leaders-call-for-urgent-meeting-to-save-nrw-visitor-centres-714281

17^th August – Cambrian News opinion piece https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/opinion/patrick-obrien-gwynedd-and-ceredigion-couldnt-care-less-about-our-visitor-centres-712254

14^th August 2024 – Article appears in Private Eye about the centre closures.

12^th Announcement that Bike Park Wales has signed a new 33yr lease with NRW that will allow BPW to change from forestry to a rewilding project. https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/news-and-blogs/news/bikepark-wales-and-natural-resources-wales-sign-new-lease-to-rewild-mountain-add-trails-and-accommodation/.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/844906057585174

https://singletrackworld.com/2024/08/bikepark-wales-new-33-year-lease-to-bring-many-benefits

11^th August – First public meeting at Nant yr Arian about the closures, around 70 attend. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qgHNPGTue7Zt5DSh/

7^th August – Cambrian news https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/fears-over-future-of-gwynedd-recreation-centre-amid-proposed-ps13m-cost-saving-restructure-710941

https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/opinion/editorial-we-cant-let-the-visitor-centres-close-710062

4 Awst – Newyddion S4C – https://newyddion.s4c.cymru/article/22998

2 Awst – BBC – Coed y Brenin: Cau canolfan ymwelwyr am gael ‘effaith fawr’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/erthyglau/cv2gdjemdnjo

1st August – Daily Post: Job cut talks at top Eryri attraction ‘extremely worrying’ development

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/job-cut-talks-top-eryri-29660235

1^st August – BBC News – Welsh environment agency plans to cut 265 jobs –

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c727p05p8dpo

1^st August Cambrian News – Visitor centres to close as NRW looks to plug £13 million budget gap https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/visitor-centres-to-close-as-nrw-looks-to-plug-ps13-million-budget-gap-709864

31^st July – NRW announce to staff the plan to close visitor centres. News brakes that they plan to cut 265 jobs in an effort to save 13 million by 1^st April 2025. Many staff hear of job losses. Union consultation that will last 45 days begins.

19^th July – Cambrian News – Public access to be maintained at visitor centre (Ynyslas). https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/public-access-to-be-maintained-at-ynyslas-as-visitor-centre-closure-fight-ramps-up-705951

30^th May – Singletrack “Are Welsh trails up for sale?” https://singletrackworld.com/2024/05/are-welsh-trails-up-for-sale-by-nrw/

7^th May MBR Article “Rider access to Coed y Brenin could be choked following a private sale, according to the local community group that’s fighting to save it” https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/rider-access-to-coed-y-brenin-could-be-choked-following-a-private-sale-according-to-a-local-community-group-thats-fighting-to-save-it-438188

8^th May MBR – https://youtube.com/shorts/QEPqtixkeTE?si=67wf0LjLsDpoPqJ7

30^th March – Cambrian News – Taking on NRW https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/taking-on-nrw-in-a-fight-to-save-our-visitors-centres-672950

4^th March – Cambrian News – Ynyslas centre will not close in March https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/ynyslas-visitor-centre-will-not-close-in-march-but-future-uncertain-669317

15^th February 2024 – Cambrian News – Date set for Ynyslas meeting https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/date-set-for-meeting-to-discuss-future-of-ynyslas-centre-666361

6^th Feb – NRW agree to meeting with residents (Ynyslas) https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/environment-bosses-agree-to-meet-with-concerned-residents-over-ynyslas-future-664618

6^th Feb –Cambrian News – Meeting held over future of Coed y Brenin https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/packed-public-meeting-hears-more-about-future-of-centre-664488

2 Chwefror – BBC – Pryder am ddyfodol canolfan ymwelwyr Coed y Brenin. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/68160601

1^st February – Ganllwyd Public Meeting https://www.facebook.com/share/p/p6FK9c4ugnEFCosM/

28^th December – Cambrian News – Appeal for local partners to run award-winning visitor centres https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/appeal-for-local-partners-to-run-award-winning-visitor-centres-657656

12^th December 2023 – Cambrian News – First Minister Responds to concerns over future of visitor centres https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/first-minister-responds-to-concerns-over-future-of-visitor-centres-655094

11^th December 2023 – Cambrian News – Petition to save Ynyslas Visitor Centre gains momentum https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/petition-to-save-ynyslas-visitor-centre-gains-momentum-654814

11 Rhagfyr 2023 – BBC – Byddai cau canolfan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn ‘drychineb’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/67683058

8/12/2023 – Newyddion S4C – Dyfodol tair o ganolfannau ymwelwyr Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn y fantol. https://newyddion.s4c.cymru/article/18162

8^th December 2023 – Cambrian News – Bosses confirm all visitor centres are at risk. https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/bosses-confirm-all-visitor-centres-are-at-risk-654497