No Lottery joy for Parc Howard

HERITAGE Lottery have turned down an initial bid for £5-million to secure Parc Howard mansion and grounds for the future.

Carmarthenshire council has expressed disappointment that the bid was unsuccessful. They are arranging a feedback meeting with HLF to clarify reasoning for the rejection.

The bid, submitted in August was delayed six months to allow for more consultation following publicity that in 2013, there was not 100per cent support for the bid and this was jeopardising the future of the park.

County executive board member for Leisure services Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “This is hugely disappointing news. It just underlines how important it is we are all united in our campaign to secure Parc Howard’s future with an economic plan that stands scrutiny.

“If we cannot change the way the park operates we could be forced to close it.

“With the authority’s diminishing resources and the fact that Parc Howard, along with all council leisure services, is a not statutory responsibility, we may need third party funding to continue running the park.”

The council had great support from the Parc Howard Association and Friends of Parc Howard museum groups when developing the HLF bid. Unfortunately there were a small number of opponents, particularly in respect of car parking issues so – essential for the sustainability of the proposals, that contributed to this current impasse.

Parc Howard ground maintenance and utility costs are approximately £70k annually and the museum costs are £36k and is reducing over the next few years.

Mrs Gravelle said: “The authority is unable to sustain the current burden of a £7.5million department budget. We have to make £1.5million in savings within it over three years.

“Our challenge is to get these attractions running for as little or no cost to the authority as possible,” she said

Part of this strategy is the option of transferring such assets to other groups like community councils, organisations and trusts possibly linked with the private sector.

The solution for Parc Howard could include a combination of partnering arrangements with various bodies for different elements of the park.

The council will also be applying non subsidised charges to bowls clubs that use Parc Howard or transfer facilities to clubs at peppercorn rent so they operate at no cost to the council.

The challenge is to reduce costs and more importantly improve footfall and income via the park to ensure its future sustainability. The council has to look as sensitive commercialisation to increase income

To achieve this, the way the park operated and what it provided has to change or it could possibly close because there is no the money in the council to keep it running.

Mrs Gravell said: “The park is a wonderful facility which we will strive to save. But we cannot possibly afford to continue running it at the present costs.”