Zip wire park plan for former colliery site
MAJOR plans for a zip wire park at a former coal mine in the South Wales Valleys have now been officially submitted.
Zip World announced plans earlier this year to bring three zip wire courses made up of four zip lines to part of the former Tower Colliery Site in Hirwaun in the Cynon Valley
It has now submitted an application for the Rhigos Mountain to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.
The adventure tourism provider opened its first zip line adventure, known as Zip World Velocity at Penrhyn Quarry, in Bethesda in 2013.
It has the fastest zip line in the world and the longest one in Europe.
The company estimates that the development would provide eight full time and 50 part time jobs.
A design and access statement submitted with the application says the business wants to “bring its unique brand of extraordinary experiences and adventure to South Wales, in the Cynon Valley.
“Zip World wish to develop a world class destination providing local jobs and significant economic benefits to the region, just like they have done in North Wales.”
Over the last five years, the Zip World brand has contributed £251m to the North Wales economy.
The business has 13 adventures, spread over three sites in Snowdonia, including Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda, Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog and Zip World Fforest in Betws y Coed.
The zip wire development is split into three separate zip wire courses which are referred to as Zip A, Zip B and Zip C.
Each zip line course will comprise of four zip lines and Zip line C will finish on land to the south-west of the existing buildings at Tower Colliery.
There will also be a car park and cabins which will be home to the office, reception, kitting up and dekitting areas and toilets.
Tower Colliery was Wales’ last remaining deep pit until it closed 11 years ago
The design and access statement adds: “The proposal offers significant economic and tourism benefits to the local area, offering up to eight full time and 50 part time jobs.
“The economic benefits that have been realised in North Wales since the opening of Zip World’s range of outdoor adventure tourism presents and unique opportunity for the business to deliver similar economic benefits to the former coal mining area of South Wales.”