Denbighshire and Conwy County Councils have welcomed the announcement by Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, of a major funding boost to establish North Wales as a centre of excellence for cycling following a successful bid for funding from Visit Wales.
It’s expected that the project will result in an extra 40,000 visitors to the region and enhanced facilities for cycling through marketing the attractions and facilities on offer, as well as providing support for businesses involved in the outdoor and tourism industries to cater for cyclists.
The project has nine key components:
- To upgrade the existing facility at Coed Llandegla, which attracts 150,000 visitors a year – and these numbers are increasing.
- To further extend the use of the visitor facilites at Llyn Brenig
- A dedicated hospitality/information centre at Betws y Coed.
- To develop a natural trail network to link Llangollen, Llandegla, Corwen and the Dee Valley, complementing existing networks at the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Hiraethog.
- To develop an iconic three to four day natural trail ride
- An off road and activity cycling business centre at Clocaenog Forest, serving Llyn Alwen and Llyn Brenig.
- To develop a marketing brand for the area and associated web-based information portal to attract and advise visitors
- To provide increased capacity and capability of tourism businesses to offer an enhanced service, with facilities to attract cyclist businesses.
Councillor Sharon Frobisher, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: “The area is already renowned for its beautiful scenery and the rugged landscape and abundance of forestry and rural areas have already helped the region earn a world class reputation for cycling facilities and visitor attractions.
“This funding will allow us to proceed with these exciting initiatives to place the region firmly amongst the best in the country, as well as boosting the local economy and meet the demand from enthusiasts in the cycling world.”
Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Goronwy Edwards, said, “I’m delighted to see the launch of this great scheme. We have so much to offer visitors, but it is essential that the long term economy of our rural communities is assured.
“Sustainable tourism projects such as this, that can provide economic and employment opportunities for local communities, are an excellent example of what can be achieved when we work together.”
