A TRAILBLAZING mountain biking centre is hoping to create more routes and jobs for the Ffestiniog area in the new year.

Antur Stiniog centre has submitted a proposal to build three new runs at their site in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The new trails could mean up to six new jobs for the area, on top of the 19 the centre has already created since its establishment in 2014.

The proposed expansion is part of larger industry growth in the region that is cementing north Wales as the European capital for adventure tourism.

Adrian Bradley, a representative of Antur Stiniog, is excited for the future.

“The nature of the proposed development of three further trails at Antur Stiniog’s site at Blaenau Ffestiniog is to secure the long-term future and sustainability of Antur Stiniog Cyf as a business, and further enhance it’s reputation as one of the premier mountain biking venues to visit in Europe,” he said.

“It will sustain its current workforce, and create further employment in the area, and benefit local people and the community, and boost the local economy.

“Further employment will be created due to more riders visiting the site due to the increased trail network, and will include more uplift drivers, site maintenance staff, and café staff. This would increase the staff numbers by four to six employees.”

He also explained how the new trails would differ from the existing ones, with a particular view on environmentalism and sustainability.

“One of the trails will be a ‘Green’ beginner trail,” he said.

“The site does not have this option currently, and from attending meetings with Natural Resources Wales and other land managers from the mountain bike sector this is by far the most popular, and most used sections at other trail centres in the UK.

“This trail would be surfaced with slate waste due to the volume of riders that we anticipate will be using the trail, this will increase sustainability and require less maintenance levels.

“The other trails will include a Black section, and one red section for more experienced mountain bikers.

“These will be unsurfaced trails, with a much more natural look than the existing trails and fall in line with what current trends in mountain biking and developments at other similar venues throughout the UK.”

The plans will be discussed by Gwynedd Council’s planning committee in the new year.