Mountain bikers in plea to save visitor centres

Mountain bikers are campaigning to save three visitor centres and get more investment in trails across the country.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is considering no longer running cafes and shops in visitor centres at Coed y Brenin, Gwynedd, plus Bwlch Nant yr Arian and Ynyslas, both in Ceredigion, as part of plans to save £13m.

NRW said inflation had caused financial pressures and it was proposing widespread changes to prioritise tackling the climate crisis and pollution.

It added that if there were changes to visitor centres, walking and bike trails at the sites would stay open.

But a petition of more than 13,000 signatures says closure “would have a far-reaching negative impact on the local economy, environment, and community well-being".

The Senedd’s petitions committee will discuss the issue on Monday.

Coed y Brenin has iconic status for mountain bikers – the first purpose-built bike trail opened there in 1996.

Its visitor centre has a café, bike wash and showers, and there are eight trails.

At Nant yr Arian centre, there is a shop, café and toilets, and five trails – it is also famous for the daily feeding of red kites.

NRW said while it understands the kite feeding is popular “no decision has been made on whether (it) will continue or stop in the future.”

Ynyslas’ centre has an exhibition on the Dyfi Nature Reserve, a shop selling snacks and drinks, and toilets.

In a letter to Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies, members of the Welsh mountain bike sector say the sport is “a cornerstone of outdoor recreation in Wales, attracting thousands of visitors annually and generating significant economic benefits".

One of the signatories is Robin Grant, chairman of the UK MTB trail alliance, who said: “There’s an ecosystem of businesses that have grown to support the different activities at the centres – accommodation providers, restaurants, mountain bike guiding businesses, bike shops.

"If visitor numbers are impacted greatly, those business may not survive long enough to see those centres open again.”

The Welsh government did not comment on the letter.

Summit Cycles, a bike shop based in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, helped build some of the trails at Nant yr Arian.

The company's Toby Bragg said: “These centres provide a hub for activities, they bring people together.

"They allow people to access the outdoors where they can also take some sanctuary from the terrible weather we occasionally see here in Wales."

Two of the visitor centres are in Ceredigion, the constituency of MS Elin Jones, who said while visiting Nant yr Arian: “I know there are interested parties out there, but we need to move quickly.

The worst possible thing (would be) if a centre like this is mothballed and all the momentum is lost."

She said every effort should be put into finding a local partner to take on the site.

Ynyslas does not have bike trails but the boardwalks through the sand dunes are very popular.

Polly Ernest - one of the founders of the campaign to save Ynyslas visitor centre – said staff do crucial work educating visitors about the Dyfi nature reserve.

NRW has said its savings will mean cutting 265 posts.

It is consulting with staff and trade unions on “proposals for changes in order to reach the savings target of £13m".

In a statement on the future of the visitor centres, Head of Commercial Sustainability Elsie Grace said: “One element in our current offer to staff is that we no longer operate catering and retail provision in visitor centres.

"If these proposals are agreed, we will be able to work with partners to look for new ways of working in the future and look for partners to run these services.

"There are no plans for other changes. The sites themselves will remain open for walking and cycling as they are at present, and services such as play areas, car parking and toilet provision will also continue to be available."