Fears grow for tourist attractions Heritage centre and zoo say their futures in doubt
Two of West Lothian’s best- loved visitor attractions say they might be forced to close their doors for good because of a funding crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Both the Almond Valley Heritage Centre and Five Sisters Zoo shut to the public when lockdown began in March and are now struggling to make ends meet.
Almond Valley – which contributes £ 1million to the Scottish economy each year — says it fears for the future without urgent financial support, and the Five Sisters Zoo said it has very little income while operating costs remain at around £35,000 a month.
It has been offering adoption and education packs as well as selling plants but said the future is uncertain.
Dr Robin Chesters, director of Almond Valley Heritage Trust, said its reserves were rapidly depleting.
He continued: “Independent museums like Almond Valley operate on limited reserves and generate most income from visitors and education programmes between April and September.
“Independent museums are charities and the vast majority do not get any income from local or national government.
“Almond Valley is likely to remain closed during vital income- generating summer months.
“If the museum survives to the start of the 2021 season next April, it will begin at a loss, with a drastically reduced income for 2021.
“With this knock- on effect, it is still likely to struggle as far out as the 2022/ 23 financial year, putting Scotland’s heritage at risk.”
The Five Sisters Zoo near West Calder is also feeling the pinch after it was forced to close its doors to the public. It has set up a Just Giving page to help meet high running costs.
“We are calling on all of our visitors and supporters to help us during this difficult time and to help ensure our doors reopen with essential overheads of over £35,000 per month (excluding wages) with next to no income,” said the zoo.
“We are trying our best to keep going. However, we are struggling, so any donations large or small will help, although we do realise people will have other priorities and their own difficulties at this time.
“After a very long wet winter we were looking forward to springtime, normally our busiest time of the year, but this year we do not know what lies ahead for us.”
The zoo has also been selling plants to help make ends meet.
It continued: “First of all we would like to say a sincere thank you to everyone who has donated, purchased education or adoption packs, and to people who have volunteered their time or helped in any way these have all been a great help.
“The zoo’s future remains uncertain and we are approaching a critical period, we have no income apart from the above and from plant sales, and our operating costs remain at around £85,000 a month.
“The selling of garden plants and sundries has been a great help, but we now hold too much stock as the initial demand and clamour for plants has understandably slowed down as most of our Facebook supporters have now sourced their plants.
“Every sale is a big help and every penny of profit goes back to help the zoo.”
Plants and sundries can be purchased online via this link https://www. gardens- r- us. scot/ shop/ or by e mailing brian@ fivesisterszoo.co.uk.
To donate to the zoo visit https:// www. justgiving. com/ crowdfunding/ fivesisterszoo and for more information about Almond Valley visit www. almondvalley.co.uk.
We are calling on all of our visitors and supporters to help us