Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has opened a public consultation over plans to charge an entry fee to the Calanais Standing Stones.
HES said the proposals aim to support and enhance economic, community, and conservation benefits for the local community and the wider Outer Hebrides.
The body is working closely with Urras nan Tursachan (UnT) in support of their plans to redevelop the visitor centre at the site.
Together, the organisations aim to enhance the visitor experience and integrate both elements, access to the site and the enhanced interpretation and information available at the visitor centre, into a single entrance fee.
The cost of admission is yet to be determined but HES said it will reflect “market demand and visitor offer” at the site. The cost will also benchmark against a variety of visitor attractions across the UK to ensure pricing equates with the wider marketplace.
The plan is to split the admission income in three ways - to UnT towards operational
costs of the visitor centre; HES to help with ongoing conservation of the monument,
improvements at the monument and towards supporting the wider Properties in Care
in the Outer Hebrides; a new Fund for Heritage to support local and broader community-led
heritage projects in the Outer Hebrides.
HES said it would largely reinvest their portion of the fee back into the site to help fund additional sustainable conservation measures that tackle and mitigate current erosion challenges, thereby protecting the integrity of the Calanais Standing Stones.
The entrance charge would not apply to locals, it is pledged, though the definition of ‘local’ has yet to be defined. A survey asks if free entry should be restricted to residents living in the immediate vicinity in Callanish and Breasclete; expanded to cover the Isle of Lewis; or include some other boundary.
A key element of the proposals is to reinvest a portion of the revenue from the entry fee into a Fund for Heritage. This will support heritage projects and bodies across the Outer Hebrides.
Sian Evans, regional visitor and community manager for north region at HES, said: “The Calanais Standing Stones are synonymous with the Outer Hebrides, embodying thousands of years of history and culture.
“With increased visitor footfall and the challenges presented by factors such as climate change, we must take action to ensure the stones are adequately protected to stand on this site for at least another 5000 years.
“Our goal is to ensure our proposals also enhance the site’s value to both the community and visitors. We encourage everyone with an interest, relationship or connection to this iconic site to participate in this consultation to help shape its future.”
The public consultation is open at www.haveyoursay/calanais-consultation.
Survey over plan to charge admission fee to Calanais Stones
13 August 2024
