‘Tourist information centre closure would be a major blow to Caerphilly’

The news that Caerphilly Observer broke about the closure of the visitor centre has provoked an outpouring of support for the popular venue.

An opinion piece on our website by editor Richard Gurner, outlining why he thought the closure was wrong, prompted a letter from America from a recent tourist.

Chuck Zitrick, from Maryland, visited Caerphilly in July last year with his family.

He wrote: “While we loved our time in the castle, it was Karen at Y Galeri who made us have a personal connection with your town. While the Cadw staff were helpful in sharing information about the castle and what package to use as we began our exploration of Welsh sites, it was our time in Coffi Vista that let us spend time together as a family; and it was Karen at Y Galeri who made us have a personal connection with your town. Not only did we buy some small pieces of her work, but she guided us to other shops around town.

“Y Galeri, and Karen Evans, is your Welcome Centre. She greeted our cold and wet family into her store. She gave my children crafts to sit and work on. She let me practice my Welsh language with her, kindly guiding me. She shared her work and all of the work of the artists in her store with a mixture of quiet pride and noble modesty.

“As I’ve mentioned, I am not a local and have no influence on the decisions of your council. But as a visitor, who is the type of tourist you are hoping to bring to your town, closing the Coffi Vista and possibly impacting the Y Galeri, seems to be a misguided decision by a hard-headed bureaucracy.

“Our visit was seven months ago and yet it was our time together in Coffi Vista and our time in Y Galeri that prompted me to share my concern for these businesses and people.

“To the staff of Coffi Vista, the locals we met there, and Karen and all of the artists, I want to wish best of luck to your success. Know that you all made a lasting impression on myself and my family.”

The opinion piece and the news of the closure also prompted Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Delyth Jewell to raise the matter in the Senedd.

She told the Siambr: “It isn’t just a tourist information centre – it’s actually a very popular cafe and a hub for people in the area.

“This site also houses public toilets and a gallery which showcases local art.

“It’s a really important asset locally to the community – it probably has the best view of the castle in the entire town.

“It’s great for attracting tourists and there has been bafflement locally about how a decision like this can be made without notifying staff.”

Caerphilly MS Hefin David added: “It’s really important that there is a hospitality presence maintained there.

“I think this can be done through a small business or social enterprise running a cafe as a tenant. That would also enable the toilets to remain open to the public.”

Plaid Cymru have organised a protest to be held outside the visitor centre at 10.30am on Saturday January 13.

Cllr Lindsay Whittle, the opposition Plaid Cymru group leader on Caerphilly Council said: “The closure of the tourist information centre flies in the face of all the talk about regeneration of the town centre. It has always been a popular meeting point for both local people and visitors to the town with a busy cafe.

“Closure would be like shooting yourself in the foot. It would be a major blow to the town and rip the heart out of Caerphilly. I also feel for the staff who have always put their heart and soul into their work and are always very helpful to visitors to our town.”

While council officials, and the cabinet, have unofficially taken the decision to close Coffi Vista, there is still time to potentially save it.

Cabinet will meet on January 17 to discuss the budget, before a final budget decision is made by a meeting of full council.

Whether there is the political will to find a solution to save the community hub remains to be seen, but you can contact your local councillor to tell them it needs to be saved.

An online petition to save the centre has also been launched at Obv.sr/vistapet