The retiring first director of the National Botanic Garden of Wales has appealed for a 'level playing field' in government support for the site and similar tourism projects.

Professor Charles Stirton is stepping down from the project he has headed for almost six years to set up a new biosciences company within the grounds of the garden.

Professor Stirton: More government funding call

Professor Stirton used the announcement of his retirement to call for further public funding, already being clamoured for by other privately run tourist attractions around Wales.

Private tourism operators have experienced a drop in visitor numbers since free entry to museums was introduced last year. The devastation of foot-and-mouth also played a part in keeping people away.

The �44m garden was set up at Llanarthne in Carmarthenshire as one of the flagship projects built to celebrate the Millennium.

Opened in 2000 by Prince Charles, last month the project was given a �360,000 Welsh Assembly grant to help ease financial difficulties caused by falling numbers.

Professor Stirton said the venture was on the threshold of becoming one of the "great gardens of Europe".

Lifeline

"But our science and education is almost totally privately funded at the moment, " he added.

"If we are going to take that next big step and to really contribute to Wales and the UK but globally as well, we do need funding from the National Assembly."

His call follows intervention last month from Ashford Price, the owner of the National Showcaves Centre for Wales at Dan-yr-Ogof in the Swansea Valley.

Mr Price, whose own attraction has been given a possible lifeline of grant aid from the assembly, warned the gardens could become the "Welsh Millennium Dome".

Professor Stirton has seen the gardens project almost completed under his stewardship.

However, he argues the same government backing should be given to the Llanarthne project as to the other botanic gardens at Edinburgh and Kew.

Its being claimed the gardens could develop into a Millennium Dome

He will be moving across to developing a preferred futures company in the Biotechnium in the gardens over the next few months.

The Biotechnium is one of the schemes linked to the Technium network which has been established help new incubator companies at the cutting edge of technology develop.

The �4.7m overall project costs of the technium network are being met by a consortium including the WDA.

As well as 12 developing companies will also house the botanic gardens' research and development team.