The summit of Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa to use its proper Welsh name -
is topping a Countryside Council of Wales poll of favourite Welsh
places at a time when a last ditch appeal is underway to finance the
re-building of its hideous Summit Building.
The CCW Favourite Places survey asks people to nominate their,
erm, favourite place, and so far, Snowdon tops the lot, ahead of
Tenby in second spot and Aberystwyth in third - full
details here - but voting's still going on, though gawd knows
where... Oh, okay, its here.
Coincidentally, the poll coincides with the recently launched
appeal to raise the remaining £2 million needed to start work on
a new £9 million visitor centre to replace the current summit
monstrosity. Some £7 million has already been raised from the
public sector, but the rest is down to fundraising.
If the money isn't raised by early June, says Dan James,
operations director for the Snowdonia Society in an article
on the IC Wales web site, the project will not just be delayed but
actually cancelled. This is apparently because of deadlines applying
to the European Union portion of the funding, so time is of the
essence. A spokesperson for the project emphasised to us that they
still need 'lots of money' though they're also talking to suitable
private companies about possible funding.
The project was conceived following an intital survey in 1997
which found that over 75 per-cent of repondents in the Snowdonia area
believed that the present summit building should be replaced. The
same survey also suggested that the new building should provide
shelter, public toilets and refreshment as part of its service. So
much for a wilderness experience, but then with access via the
Mountain Railway during summer months, it's arguable that the summit
of Snowdon is never going to be pristine wilderness anway.
The current project to contruct a robust but elegant building
designed by award-winning architects was granted planning permission
in January 2004 - see previous articles below - and has been wirdely
prasised by those interested in the devleopment.
John Disley CBE, President of the Snowdonia Society says, "I have
been totally supportive of the redevelopment of the Snowdon Summit
facility since the matter was raised a few years ago. The present
building is a disgrace to Snowdonia and Wales - it is a slum. I am
always ashamed to take visitors from abroad to the summit - the site
deserves the best. Wales now has the best stadium in the UK and
concert hall - now our highest mountain needs a summit facility that
we can be equally proud of."
More details about the project at: www.snowdon-summit.co.uk
where you can also donate online.
