Rescue package agreed for National Botanic Garden (From Western Telegraph)

Rescue package agreed for National Botanic Garden

A £3 MILLION rescue package has been drawn up to save the National Botanic Garden of Wales from closure.

The tripartite agreement between Carmarthenshire County Council, the National Assembly and the Millennium Commission will now be presented to the attraction's board of trustees.

The three parties will invest equal amounts during the next year to ensure the gardens at Llanarthne can continue to operate.

There was cross party agreement for the scheme, which was approved at last week's full council meeting.

The proposal outlines a five-year plan for the £43 million attraction. At the end of that time the gardens should be solvent and able to continue operating.

All funding parties have agreed that the package is dependent upon strengthening the corporate governance and management of the gardens to their satisfaction, which they consider essential if the facility is to flourish in the long-term.

The attraction's chief executive Mark James said: "This package will provide the stability the National Botanic Garden needs in the short-term to plan a sustainable future."

Councillors agreed that the National Botanic Garden was an important facility for Carmarthenshire and the rest of Wales. It currently generates around 110,000 visitors a year, which produces enormous spin-off benefits for local businesses and other tourism attractions in the area. Independent council leader Meryl Gravell said: "We cannot allow the gardens to close. Our investment is a small price to pay for the many benefits this garden has for the whole of Wales."