Angry dad criticises centre's festival charges; Man hits out at pounds 10 fee because of Urdd Eisteddfod enclosure.

Byline: Lisa Jones

A FATHER of three has hit out at the decision to close off a city landmark for a youth festival.

Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre is playing host to the National Urdd Eisteddfod until Saturday and anyone entering is expected to pay pounds 10.

Roads around and leading to the building in Cardiff Bay have been closed off since the start of the youth cultural festival on Monday. The centre is the hub of the Eisteddfod and surrounding land is being used for stalls and exhibitions. It is fenced off to non-festival goers, unless they pay the fee.

Mike Fudge, 44, who lives nearby in Dumballs Road, is a regular at the WMC's eateries and was infuriated at being expected to pay the pounds 10 adult entry fee to gain access to his favourite coffee shop.

He said: "One of the few things I enjoy doing is taking a walk down to the Bay, having a coffee and watching the world go by for an hour. The inner Bay area, which is normally open to the residents of Cardiff, is closed off. Considering the people of Cardiff helped fork out pounds 13.5m for the WMC to get it out of the red, I think it's an outrage. Why has it suddenly become exclusive? "It's a fantastic resource and it's the residents of Cardiff who are paying for these facilities."

The WMC received a multi-millionpound bail-out from the Welsh Assembly Government after it announced debts of more than pounds 13.5m in October.

Aled Sin, director of the Urdd National Eisteddfod, said: "The festival site is enclosed to ensure the security of the stalls and exhibition and an entrance fee is charged which contributes towards the festival's pounds 1.5m running costs."

A spokesman for Cardiff council said: "Occasionally, some areas open to the public need to be set aside for the purpose of these events, as with the Urdd Eisteddfod. However, in order to cause the minimum disruption possible, walkways around the event's 'Maes' area have been fully maintained to help people get around that part of Cardiff Bay."

A spokeswoman for the Wales Millennium Centre said: "The Centre is normally open to the public free of charge seven days a week, with regular free performances. This week is exceptional but offers excellent value for money, with all-day performances by the most talented of Wales' young people as well as an array of outdoor activities."

CAPTION(S):

The Urdd site and, right, Mike Fudge outside the Wales Millennium Centre