BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Yes, the email pester power campaign initiated by Chipps at http://www.singletrackworld.com worked.
Forest Enterprise was deluged with emailed complaints following release of the news that Sian and Dafydd Roberts – creators of the fine MTB ambience at the Coed y Brenin forest – were to be evicted by the end of the month.
Mind you, it’s only a stay of execution, Forest Enterprise have extended the notice to quit through until 31st October 2004. During this extension of tenure, Sian and Dafydd Roberts will be able to bid for the licence to operate the new, expanded cafe and visitor centre planned for the forest.
Here’s Forest Enterprise’s swifter-than-expected climb-down:
Forest Enterprise appreciates the contribution that Dafydd and Sian Roberts have made to the undoubted success of mountain biking at Coed y Brenin. Their formal agreement to run the tea room and information centre at Coed y Brenin ended 3 years ago. We have been unable to reach a new agreement with them since that time. Their continued occupation left Forest Enterprise with no alternative other than to bring the present confused arrangements to an end.
However, Forest Enterprise is prepared to let Dafydd and Sian continue their occupation of the visitor centre, subject to them accepting an offer from Forest Enterprise to run from 1 May 2003 until 31 October 2004, which is the expected life of the centre. Forest Enterprise has already announced plans for a new visitor centre at Coed y Brenin. When the new centre opens there must be a fresh competition to secure operators. Dafydd and Sian will have an opportunity to compete, along with others. The new visitor centre will build upon and enhance Coed y Brenin’s reputation as a centre for world class mountain biking.
In making changes to the arrangements at Coed y Brenin, Forest Enterprise has not been driven by profit, but a wish to offer ever-increasing numbers of mountain bikers the best possible facilities and services. We aim to listen, understand and respond to the needs of our biking customers and other forest users.
