Bala Lake Railway seeks planning permission for extension into town centre

A FORMAL application for planning permission for the long-mooted £4 million three-quarters of a mile extension of the Bala Lake Railway into Bala town centre has been submitted to Snowdonia National Park Authority.

A supporting document from the railway said: “Currently the railway carries 29,000 passengers a year on a train service running on 173 days a year, and it is envisaged that this will increase to 60,000 visitors a year.

“The economic impact assessment forecasts that the value of this development locally would be near £1.4 million and 20 full-time one-year jobs, plus 18 other jobs supported during the building phase and an increase of £420,000 of local expenditure per annum through a projected net increase of around 29,000 visitors to the area – the concomitant increase in Gross Value Added would be equivalent to an estimated increase of four permanent jobs in the area.”

Describing the current Pen-y-Bont terminus as “an effective no-man’s land,” with no amenities other than a shelter, it was said that visitors currently experience difficulties parking near the station.

The proposed terminus would house a ticket office and café, together with meeting facilities and a function room.

The park authority will decide on the application in the coming months.