“IF IT IS NOT going to happen here it is going to happen somewhere else. We need it is as a town, we need it as a community.” That’s what Jorge D’ascencao thinks about the £300m Rhydycar West ski slope and resort development proposed for Merthyr Tydfil, which now sits on very rocky ground.
Supporters of the plans think the new attraction could transform the town and benefit the Valleys and South Wales as a whole. They would see the creation of an indoor snow centre, an indoor tropical waterpark, an indoor activity centre, an outdoor activity area, up to 418 hotel rooms, up to 30 units of woodland lodge accommodation and up to 830 car parking spaces.
But council officers have recommended to the planning committee that the application is refused.
Mr D’ascencao, managing director at entertainment, music and arts venue, Clwb Crown, in Penry Street Merthyr Tydfil, said businesses in Merthyr and the community were behind the scheme.
“I think it will be beneficial for Merthyr Tydfil. It has been growing over the last couple of years.” He said that, socially, a project like this “changes the way that people see the town, even the people that live in Merthyr Tydfil. It is a matter of being proud.”
He mentioned Bike Park Wales, a centre where people can ride multiple mountain bike trails and take a lift to the top, and said everyone could see how that had changed the town and that Rhydycar West would be three or four times bigger.
“No-one can deny that Bike Park Wales has been a big asset for us. I’ve been in Merthyr Tydfil for 20 years, I’ve seen how the town has changed and is still changing.
“Something like that (Rhydycar West) will transform the place and put us on the right path to be a cosmopolitan area.”
He said the people behind the project had been engaging with the community and asking the right questions. “They have been working in the community and with businesses to make sure it is an add on and not a takeaway.”
He said it would be a benefit for every single business in the town even small shops which were struggling as it meant extra people and an opportunity for their businesses to thrive.
He added: “Probably for some of them it is a matter of survival. But this project is bigger than Merthyr Tydfil. Something like that is an extra thing for south Wales.”
Mario Viazzani, from Station Cafe in John Street, also gave his support to the scheme. He said: “It would be an attraction for Merthyr Tydfil. It would uplift the town. Wales needs jobs, not just Merthyr Tydfil. ”
He said with all the new roads built making accessibility better, faster and easier it would be prime for a development like that.
“I’ve always thought Merthyr Tydfil should be developed as the gateway to the Brecon Beacons. I’ve always thought there was an opportunity for tourism in Merthyr.”
Mario said there would be food outlets and hotels opening there but he was sure that not everyone travelling there was just going to stay there. He said: “Some people will want to stay in the community. There will be a spill off from it.”
He added: “Lots of people like to go to independents and try different places in the community. Merthyr Tydfil does get a lot of negative press. If people come and visit people will be pleasantly surprised.
“You won’t get more welcoming people than in Merthyr Tydfil. People in Merthyr Tydfil are really welcoming. They are just friendly people, they really are.”
He urged decision makers to “look at the bigger picture” and said the UK Government had said recently that it wasn’t going to stop developments for these kinds of reasons.
He mentioned the potential jobs for the local economy and in terms of the concerns raised he said: “I personally think it would totally outweigh it. It’s very rare for the government to be talking about bringing jobs to the country. They seem to be doing everything but jobs. To bring jobs to an area takes a little bit more thought. The Valleys in Wales need to open up.”
He said high streets were evolving and the whole country had to evolve as well. “We’ve got to look at things for the future. How many industries are going to bring £300m investment to Wales at the moment. You need jobs otherwise people just leave. It’s not just for Merthyr Tydfil. It is for the surrounding Valleys.”
Planning officers are recommending refusal because of the loss of part of the Cwm Glo and Glyndyrus SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), because it does not provide appropriate mitigation and compensation measures in relation to the impact on the Rhydycar West SINC (Site of Importance for Nature Conservation) and because of the scale, mass and changes to the landform, it would fail to effectively integrate with the surrounding context, resulting in an unacceptable adverse visual impact on the landscape.
The planning report adds: “On balance the potential economic and social benefits including employment creation, significant private investment, and enhanced leisure facilities would not outweigh the harm identified to the important ecological and landscape value of the site. Therefore, the following recommendation is made to refuse.”
In a statement, those behind the Rhydycar West project said: “Since the submission of our planning application in March, 2023, we have worked closely and constructively with the local planning authority at Merthyr Tydfil Council, Welsh Government and all statutory consultees including Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Cadw along with neighbouring councils.
“These organisations have carefully considered and reviewed every aspect of our plans. We are naturally delighted that all statutory and Welsh Government consultees do not object to our planning application. This reflects the high quality of our submission and the thoroughness of our approach.
“We have worked collaboratively with stakeholders and carefully listened to their feedback. The quality of our planning application is both a reflection and testament to the support we have received from so many to bring the development proposals to life.
“However, despite this, Merthyr Tydfil Council’s planning department have been unable to accept the economic case and the benefits the scheme would bring to Merthyr and the surrounding area.
“It is important for the public to know that NRW do not object to the planning application on ecology or landscape grounds. We have agreed and committed to comprehensive ecology mitigation and compensation measures for the land with NRW.
“Despite this the Merthyr planning team do not agree. The officer’s report flags the impact to Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs). However, having worked closely with Cadw for many years and they have stated that the development will create net benefit in heritage terms.
“The thoughtful approach of the development proposals has helped to integrate and protect the SAMs and to tell their story. We have worked with Cadw to create a heritage trail so people can experience and understand the historic importance of the land; its role within the wider history of Merthyr Tydfil and the nationally important story of Wales in the industrial revolution and support and connect with the Cyfarthfa Plan.
“There is overwhelming public and organisational support for the development from the community of Merthyr Tydfil and across the South Wales region. We have received many letters and messages of support including those from Dawn Bowden MS, Gerald Jones MP, Blaenau Gwent Council, Cardiff Council, Torfaen Council, Newport Council, Cardiff Capital Region, Cyfarthfa Foundation, Merthyr College, Tydfil Training, Bike Park Wales, Zip World, Snowsport Wales and GB Snowsport.
“This has also included Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council itself.
“It is disappointing the officer’s report fails to inform the decision makers and the public at large, as to the strength of support for the scheme and the reasons for such support, which we believe are all material planning considerations.
“From our surveys of over 4,600 people, 94.5% have said they support our proposals, 3.9% are not sure and 1.65% are against.”
The Rhydycar West team said it would create around 1,500 direct employment opportunities over the construction period with around 1,200 of these expected to come from the local area.
They said that it would create 842 jobs when it was operational of which 663 were expected to come from the local area along with indirect job opportunities in Merthyr Tydfil and beyond.
And they also said it would contribute £317.6m in additional gross value added to the economy over the construction period and contribute £38.1m in gross value added to the economy each year and bring around £300 million in capital investment to the local area.
They added: “The officer’s report fails to address the planning case for development and we fear it is misleading. They simply refuse to accept there is a major economic case of job creation and inward investment in to Merthyr Tydfil and surrounding areas.”
The application will go before Merthyr Tydfil Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, March 12.
