Snowdon Summit Plans Get Public Airing

New proposals for a redevelopment of the eyesore summit building on Snowdon have been released at public meetings by the Snowdonia National Park Authority.

Despite the enduring hatred the existing structure engenders in many walkers and climbers - even if most of us have snuck in for a cup of tea at one time or another - economic considerations mean that it won't be demolished and removed.

Some 350,000 people apparently use the existing 1930s bunker-like cafe every year, many (120,000) via the Snowdon railway, and its removal would cost Llanberis a lot of tourist income.

As a result, the brief to architechts Furneau Stewart was to soften the impact of the building with a footprint no larger than the existing site and more sympathy for the aesthetics of the local environment - in other words, less obtrusive hideousness and no larger.

The proposed solution - still in the consultation stages - is a lower, slant-roofed building constructed from local materials to blend in and two glass walls to give views towards the summit and away to Moel Hebog. You'll also be able to buy drinks and snacks both internally and externally, though there will be now winter emergency shelter facility.

The cost of the project is an estimated £4.5 million and building cannot start before next year -2003 - at the earliest. For a report from one of the meetings see the High Treks website which also has an artists impression of what the building may look like.

You can download a PDF article detailing the project from the Snowdonia National Park Authority web site here complete with more artists impressions of the proposed building.