Public access safe in Gelli Aur takeover

Public access has been secured at the now privately owned Gelli Aur Country Park which had a re-opening yesterday (July 1).

Past park operators Carmarthenshire Council have agreed with the new managers, Golden Grove Trust, to work together building a strong foundation for the Park’s future while maintaining public access.

Access to the 37-acre park may be partially reduced in the short-term because the Trust are embarking on a costly and long overdue restoration programme of the infrastructure and general public facilities necessitating some areas within the park to be temporarily closed for health and safety reasons.

Trustee to the Golden Grove Trust Richard Salmon says the first project being undertaken will be renovating and re-opening the park’s popular café and restaurant this summer.

He said: “The Trust is committed to a full restoration and development of the public offer at Gelli Aur Country Park. It is hoped the space available to the public there will be increased in years to come by expansion to the South inside the entrance gate.

“We are grateful to the council’s partnership input to provide this continued public access.”

The park is famed for its peace, tranquillity and exceptional views across the Towy Valley. It has been a popular visitor attraction with picnic areas, nature trails and a celebrated herd of Fallow Deer with opportunities for visitors to follow the seasonal changes and growth of its fine collection of horticultural and arboreal plantings.

County executive board member for leisure services Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “With the financial challenges we face as a local authority we are delighted to have brought our lease to a close with this happy outcome.

“The Authority is grateful to the Trust for having the foresight and ambition to maintain and hopefully improve the public access and public offer at Gelli Aur. We look forward with much anticipation to watching this wonderful facility evolve.”

Local member, Cllr Cefin Campbell, said: “We are so fortunate to have achieved this happy partnership outcome providing financial sustainability for the park’s future and ensuring public access. It is so important that all can share this magnificent park.”

The following areas and facilities, within the western end of the Park, will be available for public access:

The West Drive Lime avenue; car park; wild life and deer viewing; amenity grass land; paths; walkways and nature trails; children’s playground and play area (subject to current health and safety-driven renovation); the picnic area and the toilets.

Proposed opening hours are:

Summer, April to September 9am-5pm Friday to Sunday, Bank Holidays.

Winter: October –March: 11am-3pm Friday to Sunday.

Hours might be extended on the opening of the cafeteria over this summer.