Last week, Janet Finch-Saunders, the Member of the Senedd for Bangor, Conwy and Môn, met with Alun Prichard, Director of RSPB Cymru, to discuss concerns raised by residents about the charges for people using only the café at the RSPB Conwy site.
Janet commented:
"Many residents in Conwy contacted me with deep concerns about having to pay an additional charge just to use the café at the RSPB site, rather than to walk around the main reserve.
"During my meeting with the RSPB, I raised these concerns with the Director and called on the organisation to remove the additional charge for people who only wish to access the café. Many local people use this café as a place to meet with friends and socialise. It is important that residents have access to these types of facilities."
Following the meeting, Mr Prichard provided Janet with the following statement:
"Lovely to speak to you earlier this week and to talk through the concerns raised by a number of local people who love the café and the site. Clearly, there is a degree of disappointment and confusion, and we discussed the fact that the purpose of this change to tackle an unfair situation has sadly got lost in translation. Previously, visitors could use the café without paying an entry charge or holding a membership and then wander around the reserve, which is not fair to those who have paid the entry charge or membership for exactly that experience.
"Correcting this unfair anomaly simply brings RSPB Conwy into line with most other cafés on the charity's reserves, which have an entrance fee, parking fee or membership requirement for access. This approach is also consistent with many other visitor attractions, such as National Trust and Cadw sites, which charge an entry fee or parking charge for use of their café facilities as part of the wider attraction.
"The volume of concerns expressed about the change, however, means we will, of course, continue to monitor it and, as discussed, we will conduct a review of the implementation and approach in due course.
"In the meantime, we look forward to the opening of the Active Travel Route, which is such a valued investment in the region and will enable many more people to enjoy this incredible part of the country."
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
