RSPB CAR PARK CHARGE ANGER
Charity says rising costs force South Stack change:
RSPB plans to charge visitors £5 to park at a popular nature reserve have provoked fury.
Parking at South Stack, near Holyhead, Anglesey is free, although there is a charge to visit the lighthouse on the headland, which is run by a local not-for-profit company South Stack (Ynys Lawd) Ltd.
Until now sightseers and birdwatchers have been free to use the extensive car park which is leased from Anglesey Council by the bird charity.
But the RSPB has now applied to erect machines to collect money for parking with a flat-rate of £5 per visit.
The decision has incensed local people all over the island.
More than 2,000 people have signed a petition by Lisa Hooton, of Llanddeusant, opposing the bid on Change. org.
She said: “I don’t object to a charge, but I feel £5 is far too much given that a lot of people here are not earning much money. Also to apply a charge to disabled badge holders is particularly disgraceful. Many people just pop here for a coffee and a piece of cake and support the RSPB by doing that.”
Photographer Phil Williams, 60, also of Llanddeusant, said: “I would like to see a reasonable charge and set up an organisation such as Friends of Ynys Lawd (Friends of South Stack) and charge membership of £5-10 for the season and gain access to parking.
“It wouldn’t be such a big hike.”
Keith Moore, 54, of Trearddur Bay, said: “There’s a lot of walkers who come here. I would prefer something for the locals so that they still gain access.”
Dawn Hughes, 53, of Llangefni, said: “My parents are in their 70s and love coming to visit here just to have a cuppa and to look out at the fantastic views. Two cups of tea and a cake are almost £10 and if you charge £5; that’s £15 a visit. This means pensioners will stop visiting.”
In a statement, the RSPB said: “We’re planning to charge £5 for peak and £2.50 for offpeak (October until Easter) car parking for non-members visiting RSPB South Stack. Every penny raised from these parking charges will be reinvested back into South Stack.
“This parking charge will allow us to continue centuries old management of Holyhead’s wonderful heathland, keeping it in prime condition and contributing to the beautiful scenery, as well as a home for wildlife, which people from all over the world travel to see. It will fund local contractors to do vital management work such as trimming the heather to provide the right habitat for some of the UK’s rarest birds, flowers and butterflies.”
They added that visiting the reserve would be free for people arriving by taxi, on foot or on a bicycle.
However locals say the mostly single lane road is dangerous as it is and that the changes could result in it becoming more dangerous.
An Anglesey Council spokeswoman confirmed that the bid will come before planners on April 4.
DRAMATICALLY located within Anglesey’s AONB and perched at the edge of a cliff possibly doesn’t come any more spectacular for a nature reserve but it also brings its fair share of challenges.
Managing a nature reserve and visitor facilities costs an increasing amount of money annually. Although we’ve been fortunate to have been able to manage South Stack without any charge for visitors for four decades, this is no longer sustainable. The cost of looking after iconic places like South Stack, is increasing annually. At the same time, public money and grants, which has helped to pay for much of our work has shrunk markedly and conservation work is becoming more costly.
We completely understand how the introduction have caused concern to local visitors. We can assure the readers and visitors both local and afar, that this charge has been given careful consideration. It is the most viable option and it works out much cheaper for families and small groups to visit than the option of an entrance fee. It’s not a decision that was taken lightly and we want to assure the residents of Anglesey and visitors to the island that all the money raised from the car park charge will be re-invested in South Stack. For the people We all have very high expectations when we visit sites like RSPB South Stack. It’s a popular destination for people across the globe, and we feel proud to be managing this magical part of Wales, for the people and for nature. Some come to visit the lighthouse, others to see the seabird spectacle and wildlife, others come for pure relaxation and to get away from it all. Whatever the reason for visiting, scaling back on the quality and standard of our facilities available for every type of visitor, is a route we don’t want to take.
Introducing a charge of £5 peak season/£2.50 offpeak for car parking will:
pay for annual maintenance cost of the car park
maintain and improve buildings including Ellin’s Tower, a grade II listed building, the Visitor Centre, which houses our shop and café, and the staff offices
keep trails in good safe condition for walkers
keep the play area and picnic area to a high standard
keep this iconic place looking pristine and beautiful for all to enjoy
Since 1977, we’re playing an important role in protecting this special site and continuous investment is necessary to go towards the upkeep and maintenance. Its cliff-top location means the buildings get a regular battering from storms. RSPB South Stack team have been working in hazardous conditions – this time last year, we had to close down the back end of the Visitor Centre where the staff offices are due to health and safety reasons. This year, plans are underway to replace that building with seven new visitor toilets and safe staff facilities. Our café will also undergo a refurbishment, including opening out the front of the café for visitors to enjoy the breathtaking view from the inside. We’re also very keen to enhance our events and activities, something that’s been cut back the last few years due to lack of funds. For nature South Stack needs all year round management to maintain its beauty that many of us enjoy. The site and the species are pro- tected under European laws because rare wildlife lives on the reserve. The costs of the necessary work to provide the perfect habitat on The Range and Holyhead Mountain will be supported by this parking charge. Silver studded blue butterfly Anglesey is one of only four places in Wales where the silver studded blue butterfly is found: RSPB South Stack is an important habitat for the Anglesey population. The work we do is crucial to its future. We employ local contractors to trim the heather, therefore providing it with a brighter future at the reserve. South Stack fleawort In the grass areas on the South Stack cliff tops, you may spot a rare plant called the spathulate or the South Stack fleawort. These clusters of bright yellow flowers and fleshy leaves and stalks cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. Managing the heathland for this precious flower to survive costs money, and the parking charge will help fund this globally important species. Chough Our annual work on the heathland where we replicate centuries old management techniques also helps keep it in prime condition for one of Wales’ and the UK’s most endangered birds - choughs - to thrive, and entertain us with their acrobatic stunts. Big thank you to members and supporters We’re extremely grateful for members and supporters donations without which we would be unable to do much of our conservation work on Anglesey, which includes not only South Stack, but also Cors Ddyga in Pentre Berw, Valley Wetlands and the Skerries. Unfortunately, this money does not bridge the gap to enable us to operate sustainably against a backdrop of increasing threats to nature and reduced sources of other income.
Visiting the reserve will remain free of charge to those who arrive by taxi, on foot or on a bicycle. Visitors who support the RSPB as existing members or sign up for membership will get free parking at South Stack as well as benefitting from unlimited access to our other nature reserves across the UK. South Stack in spring This time of year is one of the best times to visit the reserve. Over the next few weeks we’ll be welcoming back everyone’s favourite bird, puffins to their cliff edge burrows. They arrive at RSPB South Stack in spring to have their chicks. By July, both adults and chicks will have left and will spend the rest of the year feeding in the open sea. Peregrine falcons nest on the cliffs in late March. By May, most chicks will be able to fly, and if you’re lucky you’ll see adults dropping prey in mid-air for the young to try and catch. Razorbills also head back to the cliffs at the end of March to check out the nesting grounds and start laying their eggs in late April, early May. Events
Treasure hunt from 27 March - Sunday 15 April.
Guided walk – 5 April 11.30am £3 RSPB members, £4.50 non-members. Please call to book.
RSPB South Stack: South Stack, Holyhead, Anglesey LL65 1YH 01407 762100 south. stack@ rspb. org. uk rspb.org.uk/southstack