Flatholm Island ‘to stay open’ - Cardiff council (From Penarth Times)

Flatholm Island ‘to stay open’ - Cardiff council

12:20pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News

FLATHOLM Island will stay open to the public under Cardiff County Council ownership through the summer months, with opportunities for “alternative options” for its future explored in the meantime.

The announcement was made at the Labour-run council’s budget meeting on Thursday There had been fears for the popular local landmark – visited by thousands of people a year - after Cardiff council said it was considering its “disposal” to a third party as part of cost-cutting measures.

But more than 3,500 people signed an online petition set up by the Flat Holm Society, objecting to the proposal.

The Society has now submitted a proposal indicating its intention to form a trust to run Flatholm. A post on the society’s website last week said: “We need the council to agree to continue funding the island for a number of months to enable us to put plans in place that would enable the island to stay open to members of the public, with the Flat Holm Trust taking on the day-to-day operations.

“We hope they accept our proposal and grant us the transition time to start the process. We hope that the island will be fully funded during that time, which we expect will be between now and September. That being the case, the island will be able to gain some income from visitors over the summer and can be fully managed by the present staff.”

The Flat Holm Society will present more information at its AGM to be held tonight (Thursday March 7) from 7pm at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay.

Society chairwoman Glynis Parsons said: “We are working in the dark a bit at the moment but the important thing is that all parties want it to remain a visitor attraction and boats taking tourists over are to remain active.

“We are in discussion with some organisations who have expressed an interest in being involved and are hoping to establish some grants to help.”

For more details, see www.flatholmsociety.org.uk