ARFON MS Siân Gwenllian Hywel Williams MP have criticised the decision for Parkwood Leisure to take over the running of Plas Menai, the National Outdoor Centre for Wales.

After calling for a plan to avoid the privatisation of the running of the Caernarfon centre, Ms Gwenllian and Mr Williams backed unions within the sector in opposing the consideration of any private sector partners.

Yesterday, Welsh Government announced that Parkwood Leisure, who manage 80 leisure centre facilities throughout England and Wales, would take over the day-to-day running of Plas Menai, working with Sports Wales.

The National Outdoor Centre for Wales is located between Caernarfon and Y Felinheli, and offers activities and water sports courses for schools, groups, families, and individuals.

Ms Gwenllian had previously warned that the introduction of a private partner to Plas Menai would be the wrong decision, saying that “private, often distant partners can lead to the lowering of the standard of services offered to local people, often worsened by the lack of accountability.”

She and her Westminster colleague Hywel Williams met with members of the PCS union, national officers and members at Plas Menai.

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“I am extremely disappointed with this announcement to outsource the management and development of Wales’ National Outdoor Centre,” said the Arfon MS.

“I hope that this is not the beginning of a slippery slide towards the privatisation of leisure facilities by Sports Wales which is funded by the Welsh Government.

“We need to know what Parkwood Leisure’s short and long-term plans are for the centre and they should fully engage with local stakeholders about their ideas for development.

“In addition, has there been any consideration of the impact this privatisation will have on the provision and promotion of Welsh language services within the centre?

“Has the management company a Welsh language policy in place - one which is robust in its protection and promotion of the language in a working environment?

“We need assurances that the management of the centre by a private, distant partner won’t lead to the dilution of Welsh language services. Local people must be able to hold partners feet firmly to the fire.”

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Hywel Williams MP echoed his colleague’s concerns, saying: “I am disappointed to hear of the decision - despite collective opposition to such a move from within the local community and the unions.

“Both Siân Gwenllian MS and I said from the outset that this was the wrong decision as this type of business model almost always leads to less accountability, variable service standards and workers’ rights.

“When this idea was first mooted, we met members of the PCS union, national officers and members at Plas Menai, to offer support and voice our reservations about the potential implications of outsourcing the management of the centre.

“Today’s announcement raises several issues of concern which Parkwood Leisure must fully address and allay.

“We need firm assurances that both current and future workers’ rights will be safeguarded, both in the short and long term and those workers who are members of trade unions must be reassured that their rights are recognised and protected.”