DWYFOR and Meirionnydd residents have much to look forward to, according to a prominent local official.

At the beginning of the new year, Plaid Cymru’s Gwynedd Council leader Dyfed Edwards has looked ahead to 2017 and shared his thoughts about the future of the constituency and the county as a whole.

Cllr Edwards was particularly pleased with the council’s Welsh language policy, the manner in which the Gwynedd has adopted its slate heritage for future benefit and numerous other technologically innovative schemes.

He said: “Gwynedd is in a strong position to turn our natural resources, our heritage, our culture and our environment into unique economic assets.

“This is why we are working tirelessly on a bid to secure world heritage status for the slate industry and associated communities in Gwynedd.

“This is an opportunity for us to tell our cultural and industrial story to the world and welcome people to experience the richness of our history and heritage.

“Just like the real life story of turning Gwynedd’s heritage into an economic opportunity in an incredible 80 mile an hour zip wire ride in the Ogwen Valley zooming above Penrhyn quarry, once known as the largest quarry in the world.

“Thanks to the vision of one businessman, Zipworld’s Sean Taylor, quarries in Bethesda and Blaenau Ffestiniog have now been given a new lease of life.”

The council leader was also pleased with the region’s digital progression.

“As part of our response to sustaining communities in rural Wales we founded Digital Gwynedd to promote access and use of broadband across the county,” Cllr Edwards said.

“As a result, a significant number of businesses and individuals make maximum use of information technology and use it to promote and market their businesses.

“You can now work digitally in the picturesque Snowdonia or on the beaches of Pen Llyn. We turned an alleged disadvantage into a competitive advantage.”

Cllr Edwards reaffirmed the county’s plans to invest in Trawsfynydd and Llanbedr and bring high-end jobs to an area bereft of such opportunities.

“There are possible innovative developments happening in the depths of Snowdonia National Park as we look forward to an international development of significance in Snowdonia Enterprise Zone as plans for a space portal site at Llanbedr and energy site in Trawsfynydd come to fruition,” he added.

“This is an opportunity that only occurs once in a lifetime, the opportunity of turning our Enterprise Zone into a Future Zone as Meirionnydd communities see the benefits from quality sustainable jobs.”