A BRAND-new inflatable obstacle course attraction could be built in North Wales. Plans have been submitted to Conwy County Council, seeking permission for a change of use of a trout fishery in Penmaenmawr to an ‘aqua attraction’.
Graiglwyd Springs Fishery currently run as a fly-fishing business on a lake together with seven holiday cottages. But James McAllister wants to diversify his business on Graiglwyd Road between May and September when warmer weather means trout fishing, a cold-water sport, is less popular and the business quieter.
The business currently employs one full-time member of staff, but the new attraction will create six new part-time jobs.
The proposal is that the business will open 9 am – 5 pm seven days a week, with four or five 45-minute sessions a day, taking bookings of up to 25 people per session.
The fishery is 300m from the boundary of the Snowdonia National Park and 500m from the Penmaenmawr Conservation Area.
If it gets the go-ahead, the inflatable float will measure between 24m to 20m and will be secured by concrete anchor points.
The council’s public protection department said it is not concerned with any risk of pollution.
A planning statement provided by Cadnant Planning said: “The scheme would assist in diversifying an existing established enterprise, which is currently struggling during the spring/summer periods given the nature of the fishing activity being carried out on site.
“The scheme would provide a diverse use for the site which would likely improve the tourism/attraction on site all year round as well as improve the range and type of activities that are being in the local area/county.”
It added: “It is therefore considered that the scheme hereby proposed is unlikely to have a significant impact on the characteristics and appearance of the historic landscape of the National Park.
“Overall it is noted that there will be additional noise created from the activity; however, it is not considered that this will be prolonged or adverse in nature.Therefore the scheme hereby proposed is not considered to result in any detrimental harm to the amenity and privacy of the adjacent holiday caravan park residents or to any other nearby residential property.”
The application will most likely be debated by Conwy County Council’s planning committee.
