ENTRANCE to Castle Cornet will be free during September. The trial could become permanent if more visitors can be attracted.

The Culture and Leisure Department hopes that free entry will be a bigger draw for locals – many of whom, it reckons, have never visited the 13th-century castle.

‘Primarily, this is for the locals,’ said Heritage Services director Peter Sarl.

‘Such a small percentage of our visitors are local, but we also get so many locals telling us that they would love to just have a walk around the castle grounds without actually going into the museums.’

He added that, because many visitors spent only a short time on the island, the trial would benefit them, too.

‘Holidaymakers these days might have only two days’ holiday, whereas they used to have two weeks, so we hope the free entry will allow them to see all the sights and not feel that they have to stay in one place because they’ve paid.’

Mr Sarl said that while entrance to the grounds of Castle Cornet would be free, charges would apply elsewhere.

‘Effectively, what we’ve done is to transfer the charges. Where you used to pay to get into the castle grounds, you will now pay to get into the museums inside the castle.’

The department intends not to lose any income by waiving the £6 entrance fee – £4 for senior citizens.

‘We’ve got all the figures to compare, so we’ll review it after September.

‘The hope is for it all to go well and for this to become a permanent thing. Obviously the consideration is for this [to happen], but if we find we are losing too much money, then there’s always plan B, which is to revert to things as they are now.’

Operating income from the States-run museums and galleries has been in decline. Last year, admission charges raised £163,205 – a fall of nearly £30,000 on 2002 income.

The department has also reversed an initial decision to close the castle at the end of September and will keep it open through October, too, in response to a request from VisitGuernsey as part of its efforts to extend the visitor season into shoulder months.

VisitGuernsey chief executive Stuart Pinnell said: ‘It is imperative that Guernsey presents a credible offer, to enthuse prospective visitors outside of high- and mid-season.’

Culture and Leisure chief officer Dave Chilton said that the move showed tangible progress in joined-up government in the States.