Three zip lines featured in plans for new adventure site
DETAILS of the plan for a ZipWorld site in the South Wales Valleys have been revealed – and they include three zip wire courses, parking facilities and a reception area.
The North Wales tourism giant, which has 11 adventures spread over three Snowdonia sites, had looked at setting up a site in South Wales more than three years ago – and a recent cash injection from Lloyds has moved the plans on.
It now plans to submit an application to develop a location in Rhigos, near Aberdare.
But first, a consultation has started for the Rhigos attraction, which will be based at the site of the former Tower Colliery.
It will run until March 17, 2019. This will be the first site for the business outside North Wales, following on from the success of its first superfast zip line at Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda in 2013.
A draft document published by Conwy-based Cadnant Planning includes plans for three zip wire courses, the creation of internal access roads and pedestrian routes, cabins and use of land for car parking.
The site is south of the villages of Rhigos and Hirwaun, covering an area of land on the Rhigos Mountain, located around 0.5km and 1km to the west of the A4061, between Blaenrhondda and Hirwaun.
The ziplines, which will use the same technology and structures as Zip World’s existing Velocity attraction, will be split into three separate zip wire courses, referred to as Zip A, Zip B and Zip C.
Zip A is the first zip wire course, which is at the top section of the site on the Rhigos Mountain.
This zipline measures around 191m in length and has an overall drop of 22m from start to finish.
Riders will then walk via a new pedestrian access route from the bottom of Zip A to Zip B
Zip B will be the longest section of the zip wire course, covering 932m from start to finish, starting from above and then sailing over Llyn Fawr.
Zip B has the largest overall depth of 157m from the starting point to landing.
Zip C is the final and lowest part of the zip wire course and is 624m long.
It starts near to the bottom of Zip B and extends over ground and riders will land a walking distance from the Tower Colliery site.
Riders will finish their journey by walking back along an existing access track, along a newly created boardwalk.
The application site also includes part of the site of the former Tower Colliery.
This area will be used for car parking, as well as being the base for the zip wire adventure, providing a reception area.
Vehicles will use the existing access to the colliery via the A4061 Rhigos Road.
The car parking area will be near a group of cabins, which will be used as office, reception, changing area and toilets.
This will be the central area where visitors will report to upon arrival and book in, before being kitted up ready for their zip wire adventure.
Once booked in and kitted up, riders will wait to be transported up in groups by Zip World to the top of Zip A.
The access route will be from Tower Colliery, along the Rhigos Road, leaving at a junction which provides access to Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm onto a private road.
Zip World has grown rapidly since launching its first superfast zip line.
Over the past five years the company has contributed £251m to the North Wales economy, according a 2018 report from North Wales Tourism, and created 450 permanent jobs, with 93% of the staff living locally.
According to the planning document, it is estimated that the proposed Rhigos development will provide employment opportunities for eight full time staff and 50 part time staff when fully operational.
It will aim to recruit people from the local area and the wider South Wales Valley region.
The planning document also takes into account environmental sustainability, community safety, heritage areas, viewpoints, landscapes, plants and willdlife.