Big Pit charging mine admission is ‘flawed’ – file

It is flawed to fee other people to go into the Big Pit National Coal Museum, a Senedd file says.

The museum in Blaenavon, Torfaen, has began charging £8 consistent with individual, with some concessions, on an ordeal foundation till July 2026.

But the tradition and game committee says get admission to must stay unfastened on theory and no longer be a luxurious for individuals who can find the money for it, calling for higher investment for Welsh museums so collections stay unfastened for all.

The Welsh govt mentioned it was once dedicated to protecting access to all seven museum websites unfastened, in addition to to the nationwide collections, and would believe the file’s findings.

Tours of Big Pit, one among Amgueddfa Cymru’s seven museums, are led through former miners and discover authentic mine shafts and museums.

An indication outdoor the doorway now states: “Due to financial pressures and funding cuts, from 5 April we will be charging for the underground tour.”

But Delyth Jewell MS, chair of the Senedd’s tradition and sports activities committee, mentioned the excursions are “a fundamental part of our national collections, they are part of our national story, and that shouldn’t be limiting if people can’t afford to access them”.

The file says the Welsh govt has “not fulfilled its responsibility in funding museums adequately”, bringing up a 17% minimize in actual phrases to investment for tradition and game in Wales within the closing decade.

“We appreciate that it is expensive for Amgueddfa Cymru to provide access to the underground workings at Big Pit,” it says.

“However, we think this is an argument for the Welsh government to provide an adequate level of funding, not for Amgueddfa Cymru to charge for access.”

Visitors gave a combined reaction to the fee, with Deborah Clubb from Merthyr Tydfil announcing: “I think [the fee] would make it something that I wouldn’t visit as often, definitely, because it was always a free attraction before and something that you could do as a family without thinking about.”

Mother-of-six Amy Hughes, from Aberdare, mentioned she took the underground excursion a number of instances when it was once unfastened.

She mentioned: “[The admission fee] does make me not want to take all my kids down there but I do feel it’s such good value to be able to go underground and see an actual mine.

“It could be excellent in the event that they did a circle of relatives price tag.”

Amgueddfa Cymru said the Big Pit experience extends “some distance past” the underground excursion, and the remainder of the web site stays unfastened. It mentioned it appears ahead to proceeding operating with the Welsh govt as they believe the file’s findings.