Ocean lab consultation deadline looms (From Western Telegraph)

Ocean lab consultation deadline looms

9:00am Wednesday 20th February 2013 in County News

Members of the public have until today (Wednesday) to take part in a county council consultation on the future of a popular Goodwick attraction.

At a meeting on February 4th, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet voted for a review of the Ocean Lab which attracted 117,000 visitors last year.

Members heard that the facility, which boasts a café, tourist information centre, soft play area, cyber café and permanent exhibition by conservation charity Sea Trust, costs the council £73,000 to run.

Despite the council initially saying that the consultation would run for a month, members of the public have had just 16 days to have their say, with the deadline being today (Wednesday).

Consultation forms are available on the council’s website and at the Ocean Lab. A petition in the twin towns of Fishguard and Goodwick has also attracted hundreds of signatures.

Plans to review the facility have attracted criticism from town and county councillors, north Pembrokeshire residents and Sea Trust, which uses the Ocean Lab as an out of school classroom.

“It is my understanding that the building was built and paid for with European Funding for the benefit of the local community and it is enjoyed and used by everyone,” said Sea Trust founder, Cliff Benson. He added that the charity was negotiating with the council in the hope that a satisfactory conclusion could be reached.

“We believe this is essential if the community is to be served and the dereliction and vandalism of our seafront is to be avoided,” he said.

The report, with the results of the public consultation, is due to be discussed at next month’s cabinet meeting. Copies of the questionnaire can be found on the county council’s web site: http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=101,988,2102&parent_directory_id=646&id=27020&Language=