Big price rises as centre budgets its own success
The Arran Outdoor Education Centre has become the victim of its own success.
A huge rise in visitor numbers has meant a big surge in running costs putting the North Ayrshire Council-run centre seriously in the red.
Now a business improvement plan has been drawn up to meet the continued and increasing business pressures which accompany the operation of the facility over a vibrant and complex 50-week, part-week and weekend schedule and to reduce the risk of the centre operating at a deficit.
However, it means a big rise in prices for schools, as well as groups and families who use the centre, although there will also be a big investment in new equipment.
From next month the cost for a family to stay at the centre will increase by a whopping 34 per cent while school cost use will rise around 20 per cent.
North Ayrshire schools will still get preferential rates, but the cost of a weekend of activities, per pupil, will go up from £89 to £107. The rate for all other schools will rise from £179 to £213. Family stays will increase from £411 to £550 for a weekend and from £822 to £1,100 for a full week.
However, the council, in a price comparision, show this is still cheaper than similar facilities operated by North Tyneside Council and Sportscotland at their Inverclyde centre.
The current 44-bed, purpose-built centre at Lamlash Bay opened in October 2008 at a cost of £4.5 million. Since then the facility has grown in popularity with visitor numbers soaring at the island’s residential retreat.
The centre, which holds five-star visitscotland accreditation for residential and outdoor adventure activity programmes, has seen midweek bookings go from 43 weeks to 50 weeks. Centre usage at weekends has also increased from 17 weekends in 2015/16 to 37 weekends in 2017/18.
To continue providing a top-class service, a fiveyear plan has been introduced to replace centre equipment such as kayaks, dinghies and other water-based gear, as well as land-based equipment such as waterproofs, rucksacks, tents and sleeping bags.
The total projected annual replacement cost over a five-year cycle is £100,000 per year.
To ensure its continued sustainability over the coming years, the council recently undertook a detailed audit to try and counter this expenditure on new equipment and increasing staffing levels. The new pricing structure was agreed by councillors at a cabinet meeting last week.
But the centre will still require council funding with the new charges expected to bring in £316,777 in the 2018/19 financial year.
Employee costs at the centre alone during that time will be more than £560,000.
Councillor Alex Gallagher, cabinet member for economies, said: ‘These increases were absolutely essential to maintain the fivestar service provided at the centre.
‘We have introduced a pricing structure which still makes it really competitive. In fact it remains far cheaper than other similar ones. With these changes, we will be able to reinvest in the centre and its equipment which will ensure this fantastic facility continues to provide amazing memories and experiences for young people and their families for many more years.’