Issue - meetings

Development of a new adventure tourism ride by way of a 'Swing' to include the erection of a swing platform structure, ramp and landing structure, associated cables and anchor structures together with associated works.

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Beca Roberts

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION: To approve subject to the receipt of positive observations from CADW and the following conditions: 

1.     5 years  

2.     Comply with the approved plans  

3.     Comply with the Construction Transport Management Plan 

4.     Comply with the Initial Ecological and Habitat Enhancement Assessment

5.     Submit and agree a Heritage Management Plan 

6.     Submit an Environmental Method Statement 

7.     Submit and agree Site Management Plan to include a mechanism to deal with complaints. 

8.     Welsh/bilingual signs 

9.     Cadw Conditions 

Note – Natural Resources Wales, Dŵr Cymru. 

Development of a new adventure tourism ride by way of a 'Swing' to include the erection of a swing platform structure, ramp and landing structure, associated cables and anchor structures together with associated works. 

Attention was drawn to the late observations form which referred to comments from Llandygai Community Council along with a letter from the Chair of the Wales Slate Partnership Board. It was noted that a further objection from a member of the public had been received over the weekend, but that it did not raise any new issue.

Some of the Committee Members had visited the site on 20-10-25.

a)           The Planning Manager highlighted that it was a full application for the creation of an additional activity at the Zip World site at Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda. The proposal was to establish a new ride in the form of a large swing with 6 seats with the works including the erection of a platform structure, a ramp and landing structure, cables connected to anchor structures.

It was explained that the application site included a piece of land within the Penrhyn Quarry area, to the south-west of the existing Zip World site, extending across the quarry lake towards a gallery at a higher level on the south side of the quarry pit. The proposed development would consist of four main elements:

·        The lowest anchor point, ramp, landing area and cart;

·        The swing and platform;

·        The highest anchorage point;

·        Connection via two tensioned cables, traversing the quarry between both anchorage points. These would be fixed in place by pairs of upright steel columns on concrete pad footings.

The site was partially located within the North West Wales Slate Landscape World Heritage Site along with the Dyffryn Ogwen Landscape of Outstanding Historic Landscape with the Penrhyn Quarry scheduled monuments nearby. It was noted that the starting point of the ride and the main Zip-World centre, including the car park, were located outside the World Heritage site designation.

Reference was made to the Policy PS 14 of the Local Development Plan (LDP) which supports proposals to develop a local year-round thriving tourism industry. Policy TWR 1 reflects this by supporting proposals for new visitor attractions or facilities, or to improve and extend the standard of existing facilities. It was highlighted that policy TWR 1 requires proposals to conform with criteria relating to the use of a suitable previously used site, the use of a site closely related to other existing buildings and the development of an activity which is restricted to a specific location. Given the use of the surrounding site as a popular tourist destination, and the post-industrial nature of the location and the economic benefit likely to derive from the development, it was deemed that this development would enhance and extend the range of facilities available for visitors in a way consistent with the principles of these policies.

It was reported that the proposal site was located within the catchment area of the quarry's activities which include the existing Zip  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7