The Year of Croeso Weather-Proofing Fund has been hailed as a “step in the right direction” by one broadsheet, but another used it to mock the Welsh weather
A recent article from one of London’s major publications poked fun at Welsh rain while taking a swipe at the Welsh Government’s initiative to support small businesses. Wales Online readers have been discussing the article in our comments section.
The Welsh Administration has rolled out a £1m fund aimed at bolstering small-scale tourism ventures battered by successive wet summers. Dubbed the Year of Croeso Weather-Proofing Fund, the money is earmarked for businesses looking to install outdoor shelters, fix up soggy parking spaces, or find other ways to weather-proof their operations against the seasonal downpours.
Yet the project was mocked by the Daily Telegraph article, which described the rain in Wales as a “running joke”.
Labelling Welsh getaways as “bleak” and the incessant rain as “merciless”, the paper questioned the real impact of grants ranging from £5,000 to £20,000 for qualifying businesses. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
In contrast, The Times praised the scheme with more optimism, pointing out: “It might not sound like a lot – no country wants to primarily be known for the quality of its car park tarmac – but it’s a step in the right direction. After all, a feature as basic as adequate rain shelters might be the thing that stops a disappointing day out from turning into a disaster.”
The Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Rebecca Evans, unveiled the fund, citing the impact poor weather had been having on the tourism industry and said: “That’s why we have listened to the concerns of people working in the tourism attraction sector and launched this fund, helping them prepare for increasingly variable weather patterns.”
Commenter Wizard until i die says: “I’d rather have the pure Welsh rain and the beautiful scenery, coupled with the stunning beaches and lovely people than the fog of car fumes choking people at every turn in the concrete jungle that is Londinium.”
Fave17628 agrees: “I used to work in London, and some of the people I worked with literally thought that when you crossed the bridge, you ended up on a horse and cart. It was hilarious. I just thought that Wales is the best-kept secret, let them pay £500,000 for a shed and live in an overcrowded melting pot. I can be on a stunning beach in three hours; let them think that and keep them away.”
McW thinks: “The whole ‘It rains all the time in Wales’ thing has always puzzled me. It rains in Ireland as much as Wales, yet they don’t seem to get the rain jokes aimed at them, and for such a small country (The UK), it’s odd that people from say the South East of England act like Wales is so unbelievably different to where they live!”
Daps1927 writes: “I’m not surprised at all at the Telegraph having yet another pop at Wales. But what type of weather would they expect in a mountainous coastal country facing a moist south westerly from across the Atlantic?”
Matleser replies: “They are not mocking the Welsh weather, they are mocking the Welsh Government. Funding canopies to assist tourism whilst neglecting the vital road infrastructure that gets them here, taxing them and driving away the supply of private sector holiday accommodation where they used to stay? Well reported by the Telegraph if you ask me.”
Dm68 agrees: “It’s not the poor weather that puts people off visiting Wales, it’s the poor Government, taxing tourists, not repairing roads, running businesses into the ground, doubling council tax on holiday homes, trying to stop people speaking English and so on. Another waste of money fund isn’t going to make any difference. The Telegraph is correct. Wales is a laughing stock.”
Divideandconquer retorts: “When has anyone tried to stop people speaking English in Wales? Roads are poor all over the UK so not a unique problem to Wales and the council tax issue on holiday homes is also being talked about in Cornwall.”
Lr77 adds: “The Welsh govt is doing what it should be doing, trying to help small businesses in Wales mitigate the worst effects of climate change.”
Cymruambyth56 laughs: “The irony is that it hasn’t rained here for weeks!”
Rad75 thinks: “If the climate forecasters are right, a lot of people in the South East will be queuing up to buy some of the Welsh rain to wash and drink!”
Inreality writes: “I’m not sure if the rain in Newport is much different to the rain in Bristol. But I think it’s a good idea by the Welsh government to support small businesses affected by climate change.”
Do you agree with this fund created by the Welsh Government? Will it help small tourist businesses and is it money well spent? Have your say in our comments section.
