People unhappy about rise in entrance price at Johnstown
WEXFORD councillors have received negative feedback about a recent decision by the Heritage Council to increase entrance fees at Johnstown Castle which is currently undergoing restoration and expansion works to improve facilities for the public.
The Mayor of Wexford, Cllr. Tony Dempsey said some people who are regular users of the historic amenity had contacted him to complain about price rises of up to 65%.
‘I think there should be a graded entrance fee. Someone who lives locally and goes there regularly for a walk will not want to go to the museum everytime they visit’, he said.
Cllr. George Lawlor spoke of a ‘vicious backlash’ against the price increases. ‘A three to four fold increase for a family is a huge hike’, he told a local authority meeting.
Cllr. Lisa McDonald said she has been ‘inundated with people complaining on this matter’ and added that she agreed with the suggestion of a graded admission rate and said she believed it would actually work.
Cllr. David Hynes said there should be an effort to encourage people to visit an iconic building like Johnstown Castle rather than excluding them.
‘It’s often faceless individuals who decided on these issues. I really think we should be pushing for inclusivity, not just in Johnstown, but as much as possible, to make our tourism facilities attractive to locals and visitors’, he said.
The Mayor is to write to the Heritage Council outlining the views of councillors and members of the public to the admission prices increases.