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Rock climbing at Bryntysilio

Campaigners' plea over Bryntysilio

By Scott Faulkner

Bryntysilio Hall has been hosting thousands of youngsters from Walsall schools since 1968, but the council is considering ending trips to the outdoor education centre to save £500,000 a year.

It may be only a 90 minute minibus ride from Walsall, but in terms of its cultural and geographical character, Bryntysilio Hall is a world away from the industrial and urban sprawl of the Black Country town renowned for its leather goods.

Listen: BBC WM on the Bryntysilio funding row >

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Bryntysilio in summer

Situated two miles outside Llangollen, which nestles within the beautiful Dee Valley in the North East of Wales, the hall stands in ten acres of its own grounds and overlooks the River Dee, with its rolling hills, glistening rivers and eerie forests.

The imposing mountains of Snowdonia loom like a scene from a Tolkein novel.

Online campaign

For more than 40 years school children from Walsall have been enjoying the natural scenery of Bryntysilio and its outdoor pursuits but the council is considering saving the £500,000 a year it currently spends by not renewing its lease and instead using venues such as Shugborough Hall and Cannock Chase.

More than 4,000 people have joined an online campaign on social networking website facebook urging them not to shut it.

Admiring the view

Meg Gallahan, learning mentor at Walsall's Alumwell Junior School, which uses the centre, believes any move to cut services would deprive youngsters of a valuable life experience in another country.

Spread their wings

"It's the best thing we do all year," she says.

"Most of their parents went and it's something they look forward to all year.

"Some of our children have not been out of Walsall and some of them have never been away from their parents and it's their opportunity to spread their wings.

"We would be crushed if we we weren't allowed to go to Bryntysilio."

Having a breather

Leisure centres

Walsall council's Barrie Sanders, a ward councillor and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, is separate from the working group considering funding options, and says he hopes a compromise measure can be found.

Listen: Councillor Barry Sanders explains the sums >

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"Quite simply it's so expensive," he says.

"The money it costs would probably equates to running two leisure centres!

"I think there are other options out there and I hope scrutiny [panel] come up with another option where we can keep it open.

Taking part in a night walk

"I'm an accountant and have been looking at solutions all of my life and I can guarantee if there's a solution out there which is a reasonable cost it will be found."

Members of the Council's Community Services Scrutiny Panel are reviewing the use of Bryntysilio Hall. A working group visited the centre on Friday 25 September to see facilities and talk to staff.

Opinions raised

"Let us be quite clear, no final decision has been made and we have open minds," says councillor Louise Harrison, working group chairman.

"We met with staff as well as a representative from Denbighshire County Council, which is the building's local authority, as well as members of the Trust who own the site.

Orienteering in nearby woodland

"This was a very constructive meeting which will help us on our goal of drawing-up proposals.

"We're also keen to listen to the opinions raised by people on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter and keep them informed."

The group will convene at a future meeting to discuss the visit.

last updated: 29/09/2009 at 13:34
created: 29/09/2009

Have Your Say

Should trips to Bryntysilio be stopped to save money?

phoebe
it was great once in a life time opportunity

Alex Boys
Brynty should stay open. The enjoyment and learning this centre has provided for young people across the walsall area far outweighs the costs.

Michael Davies
I think it is not acceptable for bryntysillo to close down just because the council wants to save money, the kids shouldnt be stoped because of this reason. I have been to bryntysilo when i was with Daw End School and it was a great experience after i left school i joined the army and the skills that i learnt at bryntysilo i took with me i am now training as a teacher. The reason it should be kept open are in terms of where they live they can get away from there area i lived in blakenall. The activties are life skills i.e team building,cooking,looking after them selfs,confidence building plus having fun. thease are skills that kids need in life.

Luke
No . Bryntysilio is a great place and I thouroughly enjoyed it. It was a fantastic adventure and was absolutely brillian. If this place gets closed then they are stupid to close it and will be greatly missed. Please

Julie Hathersmith
I have been visiting 'Brynty' for the past 15 years. My first being a home sick pupil in yr9 back in 1994. I have since visited 'Brynty' in the capacity of again pupil (another 2 times), volunteer (1) and teacher (4 times)both in the house and on the cape site. I have seen a pupil leave school a child and return a young adult, who has gained the confidence to have a go at anything, to make friendships which live on forever and most of all have the time of their life which will never be forgotten. To take away this opportunity from our young people, many of them not having seen or dreamt of the breathtaking views of the mist over the weir, of the mountain views and of the warmth of a family atmosphere created by the staff at Brynty would be tragic to say the least and I know many people will feel the same pain as myself at the thought of my children not ever being able to visit such a unique and beautiful place. Makes you think about how many Councillors bonus' and expences it would take to keep Brynty going! The council really do need to think carefully before they remove one of the valuable school visits around!

Alan Price
I am a teacher of outdoor education working in walsall, and i'm amazed at the stupidity of the council at considering the closure. Many LA's in the past have closed centres and regreted the decisions later. Centres like this cannot be replaced. The residential experience in itself is a valuable learning opportuntity, as is the cultural value of taking children out of Walsall. The centre has highly experienced and qualified staff, this is not the case in many centres which recruit staff on a seasonal basis.It is about time that Walsall and SENCO stop trying to make profit out of education and see education for what it is, a life-enhancing opportunity.Brynty will be sadly missed and the residents of Walsall will be worse off for its disappearance.

S,T
if this place closes then i think i might have to cry as i have been there twice and didnt wanna come home. i went with my school with a week as it was part of my p.e course and it was the best week of my LIFE! no lie and then i went there for my work experience and it is something that i would like to do and i also didnt wanna come home from that either, so if it gets shut down then soo many people have missed out on an oppurtunity cus its the best place going by far and its worth the money !

michael langley
My son Andrew who now lives in Australia and has traveled a lot went to brynt as he calls it 25 years ago and rates it as the best time of all and still remembers it

John E Platt
Snowdonia v Cannock Chase! Lifetime Oportunity v Accountancy!

John Davies
NO, NO, NO!!!!!Does Walsall Council realise what Bryntisilio actually represents and what the place brings to the lives of schoolchildren across the borough ? This centre represents the opportunity to experience our glorious, beautiful and exciting natural environment. The centre provides an opportunity to engage childern on a whole new level in a way that breaks down the barriers of conventional education. In my experience, the days spent at Brynty enhance personal development far more than the months spent in the classroom. If we want to give future generations of Walsall children the chance to grow into rounded, balanced adults, we simply cannot allow this centre to be lost. Cannock Chase and Shugborough, although worthy would not provide the same bredth and depth of activities that are on offer in North Wales and uniquely in close proximity to Bryntisilio. Brynty should be saved at all costs !!!!

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