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A final decision to close the popular Coffi Vista has moved a step closer today after Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet agreed its draft budget.
This is despite around 300 people demonstrating in Caerphilly town centre against the move on Saturday January 13.
First revealed by Caerphilly Observer, the council wants to close the tourist information centre to save around £100,000 a year.
The closure, decided by an informal cabinet meeting last month, also threatens the art gallery Y Galeri and the public toilets.
However, the draft budget, which includes a council tax hike of 6.9% and a host of other savings, is now out for public consultation – meaning there is still time to save the venue.
Its current cost to the council for 2023/24 was budgeted at £78,044. As was revealed by the council’s regeneration services manager Allan Dallimore to staff, Coffi Visita is over budget this year and is currently running at a deficit of £90,000.
By the end of March, according to a council scrutiny committee report, it will have cost Caerphilly Council and its taxpayers £101,306.
The same report also reveals the public cost of other tourism venues owned by the council.
By the end of March, it is projected that Llancaiach Fawr will have cost £499,214; the Winding House Museum £187,259; Cwmcarn Visitor Centre £323,224; and Blackwood Miners’ Institute £330,343.
However, the Winding House has also been earmarked for closure in the council’s draft budget with a tentative plan to explore the possibility of transferring its ownership to the community.
The mothballing of the award-winning museum is expected to save £93,000 for 2024/25.
Council leader Sean Morgan, in a previously issued statement, said: “We appreciate that Coffi Vista is a popular facility, but we need residents to consider whether it is in the public interest to highly subsidise a coffee shop in Caerphilly, or re-direct these much needed funds towards delivering key frontline services.
“With the council facing a £66 million budget shortfall over the coming years, it does beg the question whether the taxpayer should continue to subsidise loss-making ventures such as Coffee Vista, or consider alternative models that keep town centres vibrant without using taxpayers’ money.
“Subsidising a coffee shop is not a priority when funds are under critical pressure to run statutory services, such as education and social care.”
The council-owned venue, which opened in April 1995 as the tourist information centre, is a much-loved and popular place for residents and tourists.
Faced with budget cuts over the years, and with the encouragement of the council, its manager Martin Cook has been forced to move its focus by offering a food and drink service.
Despite the rebrand to Coffi Vista, the place is still widely referred to as the tourist information centre and visitors still seek information about the town from staff.
Councillor Lindsay Whittle, leader of the Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly Council told protestors: “No one asked us whether we wanted to close this facility. They are saying they are going out to consultation. Consultation is not after a decision is made.”
He also criticised the council and the Labour cabinet for making an informal decision to shut the visitor centre without any proper democratic discussion. “Shame on the Cabinet,” he declared.
“This demonstration is telling the council that we want to save this much-needed and vital community facility. For everyone that came here today there are five or six more that were unable to make it.”
He said the protest also showed the support for Coffi Vista manager Martin Cook and staff at the shop.
“We intend to take this fight as far as possible,” he said.
Town Mayor Councillor Mike Prew added: “The protest is the largest in Caerphilly for almost 50 years since the Sex Pistols played in the town.”
Once the public budget consultation ends, changes may be introduced with a final budget decision made by a meeting of full council.
A petition against the closure of Coffi Vista has already been signed by almost 2,500 people.
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