The Active Recreation Sector

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy – in the Senedd at 1:42 pm on 1 December 2021.

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Photo of Dawn Bowden Dawn Bowden Labour 1:42, 1 December 2021

Can I thank the Member for that supplementary question? Yes, I did see that you recently visited Plas y Brenin; I do follow you on Twitter. It clearly is an excellent facility, and I'm very pleased that you had a positive experience there. And I do fully recognise, of course, the importance of active recreation across Wales and, in this context, the importance of our programme for government commitment to supporting disabled people and removing the barriers and obstacles that might prevent people from enjoying those kinds of visitor attractions. I certainly hope that I'll get the chance to visit there myself soon, and I would be more than happy to have further conversations with you about that. 

However, Plas y Brenin is owned and run by Sport England. So, I would anticipate that capital funding for the facility would be something that Sport England would need to review as an organisation. But, having said that, across north Wales, Welsh Government is currently supporting nine public amenity projects through the Brilliant Basics scheme to enhance the visitor experience, and several of these will allow better access to our environments, such as the beach access at Dwygyfylchi beach in Conwy. It will see improved conveniences incorporating cycle storage and so on. And, of course, we are committed within the programme for government to a new national park for north Wales, the first in more than half a century, centred on the breathtaking Clwydian range and the Dee valley, which I know is very close to your heart. 

The Welsh Government also continues to consider capital development opportunities that support key visitor and leisure destinations—for example, in Denbighshire, to support the expansion and upgrading of facilities at the coastal Beaches Hotel in Prestatyn, and two phases of an £8 million investment in Adventure Parc, Snowdonia, and another £380,000 going into Plas Weunydd Hotel in Llechwedd to create a hotel that will complement the Zip World development. I could go on, but I think the point that you get here is that the Welsh Government is very serious about supporting the outdoor recreation facilities and centres, and does absolutely recognise the importance of it to the wider economy of north Wales.