Latest news with #AmgueddfaCymru
Business News Wales
2 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Senedd Committee Calls for an End to Charges for Big Pit Underground Tours
Access to Wales' coal mining history should not be put behind a paywall, according to a Senedd Committee. The Culture Committee's report on charging for exhibitions asks the Welsh Government to fund Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales enough so that that underground tours at Big Pit National Coal Museum can be free of charge. A charging trial in place since April set the ticket price at £8 per person – or cheaper on the day or with concessions. It follows the Committee's previous report which showed that, after a decade of funding cuts, Wales spent the second smallest amount per person on culture compared with other European nations. Delyth Jewell MS, Chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee, said: 'Free entry to national museums has been a successful policy and we want to see it continue – as a matter of principle, no one should have to pay to enjoy collections that belong to the people of Wales. 'As the custodians of our nation's history, the Welsh Government has a responsibility to fund our national institutions adequately so that they can afford to provide free entry to everyone. 'But it has not been meeting this responsibility. 'Over a decade, the Welsh Government has cut public funding for culture in Wales to the extent that it's one of the lowest levels in Europe. Ministers even made suggestions that charging for entry to museums was 'on the table'. 'There have been some welcome increases for culture in the latest budget, but it does not obscure the real terms cut in funding the sector has had to endure, and the Welsh Government is yet to find a way to provide sustainable funding that recognises the worth of our culture.' Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon, Torfaen, is one of Amgueddfa Cymru's seven museums. It offers underground tours led by former miners so visitors can explore the original mine shafts and machinery. From April 2025 to July 2026, tickets for the underground tour at Big Pit must be purchased in advance for £8 per person. Limited tickets are available on the day for £5. Concession tickets are available without the need for evidence to be shown. The Committee notes that most visitors were happy with the amount they paid – but as a matter of principle, it recommends that underground tours should remain free of charge. The report made another four recommendations, including that income from temporary exhibitions should not replace the need for adequate public funding for museums, and that the Welsh Government should explore ways of helping organisations host more temporary exhibitions to improve the range of exhibitions on offer.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Charging for tours at Big Pit National Coal Museum is 'wrong'
Charging for tours at Big Pit National Coal Museum is 'wrong' A report has criticised the new admission fee for underground tours at Big Pit in Blaenavon and calls on the Welsh Government to better fund our museums Amgueddfa Cymru has recently introduced admission fees for underground tours at Big Pit (Image: David Williams/WALES NEWS SERVICE ) It is wrong to charge people to enter the Big Pit National Coal Museum, according to a Senedd committee. A charging trial which began in April set the ticket price for underground tours at £8 per person, with some concessions, until July 2026. However, the culture committee's report on charging for exhibitions asks the Welsh Government to fund Amgueddfa Cymru enough so that underground tours at Big Pit in Blaenavon, Torfaen, can be free of charge. It argues that access should remain free in principle and calls for better government funding for Welsh museums. The committee argued that the underground tours which the fee has been introduced for are not an optional extra or a luxury, but is a fundamental part of the Big Pit museum. It comes after a previous report by the committee which showed that, after a decade of funding cuts, Wales was the second poorest nation in Europe in terms of spending per person on culture. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Delyth Jewell MS, chair of the culture committee said: "Free entry to national museums has been a successful policy and we want to see it continue – as a matter of principle, no one should have to pay to enjoy collections that belong to the people of Wales. "As the custodians of our nation's history, the Welsh Government has a responsibility to fund our national institutions adequately so that they can afford to provide free entry to everyone. But it has not been meeting this responsibility. Article continues below "Over a decade, the Welsh Government has cut public funding for culture in Wales to the extent that it's one of the lowest levels in Europe. Ministers even made suggestions that charging for entry to museums was 'on the table'. "There have been some welcome increases for culture in the latest budget, but it does not obscure the real terms cut in funding the sector has had to endure, and the Welsh Government is yet to find a way to provide sustainable funding that recognises the worth of our culture." Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon, Torfaen, is one of Amgueddfa Cymru's seven museums. It offers underground tours led by former miners so visitors can explore the original mine shafts and machinery. Article continues below The committee notes that Amgueddfa Cymru said most visitors were happy with the amount they paid – but as a matter of principle, recommend that underground tours should remain free of charge. The report made another four recommendations, including that income from temporary exhibitions should not replace the need for adequate public funding for museums, and that the Welsh Government should explore ways of helping organisations host more temporary exhibitions to improve the range of exhibitions on offer.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Big Pit charging mine admission is 'wrong'
It is wrong to charge people to enter the Big Pit National Coal Museum, a Senedd report says. The museum in Blaenavon, Torfaen, has started charging £8 per person, with some concessions, on a trial basis until July 2026. But the culture and sport committee says access should remain free on principle and not be a luxury for those who can afford it, calling for better funding for Welsh museums so collections remain free for all. The Welsh government said it was committed to keeping entry to all seven museum sites free, as well as to the national collections, and would consider the report's findings. Tours of Big Pit, one of Amgueddfa Cymru's seven museums, are led by former miners and explore original mine shafts and museums. A sign outside the entrance 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 culture and sports committee, said the tours 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 report says the Welsh government has "not fulfilled its responsibility in funding museums adequately", citing a 17% cut in real terms to funding for culture and sport in Wales in the last 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." Bygone photos show life in Wales' oldest multi-ethnic community Tom Hanks writes letter backing rural war museum Publicly funded gallery 'turning its back on art' Visitors gave a mixed response to the charge, with Deborah Clubb from Merthyr Tydfil saying: "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, said she took the underground tour several times when it was free. She said: "[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 would be good if they did a family ticket." Savannah Knox, visiting from Southern Ontario, said she didn't mind paying because she is used to doing that back home in Canada. She said: "If it's historical or a museum it's usually charged. It helps with the upkeep, right?" Showing her around Wales was Lauren Price from Risca, who said she didn't mind paying the fee "if the money's going back into keeping it up and going". Amgueddfa Cymru said the Big Pit experience extends "far beyond" the underground tour, and the rest of the site remains free. It said it looks forward to continuing working with the Welsh government as they consider the report's findings.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Big Pit charging mine admission is 'wrong'
It is wrong to charge people to enter the Big Pit National Coal Museum, a Senedd report museum in Blaenavon, Torfaen, has started charging £8 per person, with some concessions, on a trial basis until July the culture and sport committee says access should remain free on principle and not be a luxury for those who can afford it, calling for better funding for Welsh museums so collections remain free for Welsh government said it was committed to keeping entry to all seven museum sites free, as well as to the national collections, and would consider the report's findings. Tours of Big Pit, one of Amgueddfa Cymru's seven museums, are led by former miners and explore original mine shafts and museums.A sign outside the entrance 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 culture and sports committee, said the tours 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 report says the Welsh government has "not fulfilled its responsibility in funding museums adequately", citing a 17% cut in real terms to funding for culture and sport in Wales in the last 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 mixed response to the charge, with Deborah Clubb from Merthyr Tydfil saying: "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, said she took the underground tour several times when it was free. She said: "[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 would be good if they did a family ticket." Savannah Knox, visiting from Southern Ontario, said she didn't mind paying because she is used to doing that back home in said: "If it's historical or a museum it's usually charged. It helps with the upkeep, right?"Showing her around Wales was Lauren Price from Risca, who said she didn't mind paying the fee "if the money's going back into keeping it up and going". Amgueddfa Cymru said the Big Pit experience extends "far beyond" the underground tour, and the rest of the site remains free. It said it looks forward to continuing working with the Welsh government as they consider the report's findings.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Inside 200-year-old abandoned tunnel network discovered under UK village after being ‘LOST' for decades
The tunnel was difficult to find as it was 'very well hidden from view' IN THE DARK Inside 200-year-old abandoned tunnel network discovered under UK village after being 'LOST' for decades A 'LOST' tunnel from nearly 200 years ago has been discovered under a UK village. The tunnel has been out of use since the 1960s, but it was recently uncovered in a "fantastic" discovery. 3 The discovery was made by Disused Railway Tunnels UK Credit: R.K. Walton/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales 3 The tunnel was used to carry slate from the local quarry Credit: Disused Railway Tunnels UK 3 It was built in 1843 and has been disused since 1861 Credit: Alamy Port Dinorwic Tunnel in North Wales was uncovered by Disused Railway Tunnels UK after a failed attempt last year. The tunnel, built in 1824, was once an integral part of the slate trade. Part of the wider Padarn Railway, the almost 100 yard tunnel connected the quarries at Llanberis to Port Dinowic. Further developments were made in 1843 when a rope-worked incline and a 92 yard tunnel between Port Dinorwic and Penscoins were built. This addition served to transport slate from the quarries to the waterside before it was carried around the UK via boats and trains. It also served as a kind of commuter route for workers before a more formalised service was introduced. The tunnel ceased use in 1861 and was blocked off before being infilled and becoming overgrown. In a trip to the area last year, Vince from Disused Railway Tunnels UK was unable to locate the tunnel. He told North Wales Live: "I couldn't see any evidence of the portal, even the shaft wasn't visible so possibly the tunnel may well be totally lost." The difficulty in finding the tunnel was caused by it having been bricked up until recently which left it "very well hidden from view." Inside 'gateway to underworld' underneath 1,800-year-old city which holds 'toxic' secret that scientists 'can't explain' Vince later returned to the village after the owners of a commercial property at the tunnel's entrance at Port Dinorwic contacted him. Speaking about the successful find, he said: "A massive thank you to Robert for the invitation to visit Port Dinorwic Tunnel and also to Iwan for showing us the way on the day and displaying patience while we mooched about in the tunnel. "What a fantastic day. Vince was shown around by Iwan Rees-Jones who said: "It's a privilege to work in what used to be the vital link for Welsh slate. Vince took photographs of the discovery which was appreciated by locals whose family history is intertwined with the tunnel. Locals either have direct or ancestral links to the tunnel and its trains including the Amalthaea, a steam locomotive that ran on the railway. One resident said: "My husband's great grandfather was one of Amalthaea's drivers. "We have his grandfather's old train tokens also, which he used to get to and from work as a slate splitter and dresser in Dinorwig. "What a stunning set of photographs, a real treat." Another local reminisced on earlier memories with friends when they would follow the disused narrow gauge lines in the 1960s. He said: "There were many tunnels leading into the mines but we never ventued into them.
