A ZIP wire from the top of the Constitution Hill to the pier, an ice rink at the castle and a splash park are just three of the projects planned by a new development group for Aberystwyth.

Aberystwyth’s Business Improvement District team has had a “challenging yet rewarding” first year, according to the development manager Matthew Newbold.

Advancing Aberystwyth has spent almost £90,000 on projects in the company’s first year, including money on a student discount scheme, Christmas lights and new digital signs near the train station.

It says it also has plans for “major projects” that will “have a huge impact on footfall and in some cases have a long lasting legacy on the town”.

The annual report released by the company said it was already planning for future projects, including the possibility of a Christmas Wonderland and ice rink, a splash park, a zip wire between Constitution Hill and the pier, and an aqua park.

The report says: “Money secured from the Mill Street Development Fund will also allow us to think big and develop major projects that will have a huge impact on footfall and in some cases have a long-lasting legacy on the town.”

A 1.25 per cent levy on the rates of businesses that have a rateable value of over £6,000 in the BID area raised almost £250,000 in the first year, with almost £105,000 still in Advancing Aberystwyth’s reserves.

Just under £88,000 was spent on a range of projects and Advancing Aberystwyth also attracted grant funding, with almost £50,000 coming from a grant from a Welsh Government tourism scheme to be put toward a digital scheme that saw a website and app produced and digital signs.

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