AN AMBITIOUS bid to have Gwynedd’s slate mining history immortalised as a World Heritage Site has received a massive financial boost.

Gwynedd Council is developing a bid for World Heritage status for the slate mining valley areas of north Wales, including towns such as Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

This is a celebration of the incredible contribution by north Wales to the rest of the world by way of slate production, the workforce expertise and resulting technology transfer over the years.

The council has now recieved £362,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help assist their bid, known as the LleCHI project, which would bring a huge amount of investment to the region.

Although the scheme takes in sites across the whole county, the Nantlle/Moel Tryfan slate quarrying landscape, the Gorsedda quarry, the Ffestiniog slate landscape, and the southern Gwynedd quarrying landscapes and transport systems form a huge portion of the bid’s attractions.

Railways and associated works would also be included in the project should it go ahead.

Gwynedd Council Cabinet member for economic development, Cllr Ioan Thomas, said: “Our heritage is what makes us unique and it attracts tourists and visitors and inspires local residents and businesses.

“Our aim is to celebrate the incredible contribution of north Wales to the rest of the world by way of slate production and the export of product, people and technologies; and along with that celebrate the industry’s inherent cultural identity which includes its influence on religion, the Welsh language, arts, social care and education in north Wales.

“The LleCHI project will also support our objective of realising the vision of regenerating communities and the local economy on the strength of this heritage, specifically by reconnecting local people in these communities with their incredibly rich cultural heritage.

“LleCHI forms part of a wider suite of projects and activities that are being developed to support the regeneration of our slate valleys – a priority for Cyngor Gwynedd Council and its partners as part of the World Heritage nomination process.”

Dwyfor Meirionnydd AM and Welsh Government minister for culture, tourism and sport, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, added: “The importance of place is rightly recognised by the Welsh Government as crucial to our future wellbeing and I welcome this investment from the Heritage Lottery Fund in supporting communities in the development and promotion of their cultural assets.

“There is no question that communities and culture go hand in hand and I look forward to seeing this programme contribute further to the good work I’ve witnessed across Wales in developing effective and practical partnerships which help highlight, sustain and enhance the many Great Places of Wales.”

Baroness Kay Andrews, UK trustee and chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales, concluded: “Heritage and culture gives a place a unique identity and makes it special for the people that live there, be it the legacy of the north Wales slate industry or the beauty of the Conwy coast.

“Our Great Place programme will demonstrate how building on those strong roots can have a hugely positive impact on local economies in terms of health, employment and education, as well as instilling community cohesion and pride.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, we are enabling a step-change in thinking, encouraging local leaders to come together and recognise that heritage can and should be a driving force for change.”