Some privately-run businesses have claimed they are on the verge of bankruptcy because they cannot compete with public museums and attractions which were granted free opening by the Welsh Assembly.

"Living history" experience is free at St Fagan's

The assembly has been asked to consider giving teachers vouchers for school trips to paid-for venues, and talks are due to start this week.

Ashford Price - who founded the award-winning National Showcaves Centre for Wales at Dan yr Ogof in the Swansea valley - has been a leading critic of the assembly's reluctance to put attractions like his on the same footing as museums.

He has seen serious financial problems as visitor numbers have plummeted - and he blames competition from free-entry attractions.

The National Museums and Galleries of Wales has suggested that the assembly should supply school trip vouchers to teachers to cover entrance fees at privately-run attractions.

Falling numbers

"What we hope they will do is to make the playing field that we operate in more even," Mr Price said.

The showcaves in Abercrave regularly attracted up to 80,000 visitors a year.

But, according to Mr Price, the numbers of schoolchildren visiting since the museum free entry scheme started had fallen by 65%.

Welsh Culture Minister Jenny Randerson granted free entry to Wales' eight national museums and galleries in April 2001.

The UK government followed suit eight months later, abolishing charges across England.

Roman relics

As well as the flagship museum in Cathays Park, Cardiff, other free-entry venues included the Big Pit mining museum at Blaenavon, south east Wales, and the Welsh Slate Museum at Llanberis, north Wales.

The Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagan's, near Cardiff, was allowed to operate in the same way, as were the Roman museum at Caerleon and the Turner House Galley in Penarth.

The decision was hugely popular and visitor numbers have almost doubled at many places.

When the move was announced, private operators like Mr Price said it would be "the final nail in the coffin" for many businesses - particularly those struggling to recover from the effects of the 2001 foot-and-mouth crisis.

Last year, following a long campaign appealing for assembly aid, Mr Price received a letter from Welsh Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies saying there would be no financial support.

Mr Price had been backed by Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams, who had called on the assembly to fund free access to the caves.