Mapping out the future of the Dolgarrog aluminium factory

Jan 15 2009 By Samantha Castle

A NEW era for a small Conwy Valley community devastated by the closure of its main employer just over a year ago is about to begin.

A team of locally selected volunteers have begun work this week as part of a major public consultation to help shape the future of the former Dolgarrog aluminium factory.

New owners of the site, strategic land company Ainscough-Johnston, is seeking views from the local community to inform plans for a long term regeneration project.

Ainscough-Johnston acquired the 40-acre site in July 2008 from administrator KPMG, following the closure of the factory.

Six volunteers from the community have been trained as interviewers, as well as contributing to writing the consultation questionnaires.

This week they begin their duties going door-to-door in Dolgarrog and surrounding villages to gain local opinion. Each volunteer will be accompanied by a bilingual professional consultant, giving residents the option to give their views in English or Welsh.

Volunteer Carol Loughlin, a resident in Dolgarrog, said: "This is a real opportunity for the community to have its say, so we can have a development that is sympathetic to the needs of the area.

"I’m sure having local people conducting the consultation will help residents feel more comfortable in putting their views forward."

Nigel McGurk, managing director of Ainscough-Johnston, said: "We have had a great response to our request for volunteers and working with them during the training has already given us a real insight into local opinions.

"Comments have already started flooding in through the consultation website and we’re now all looking forwarding to getting out there to make sure we hear as many people’s views as possible."

Joining the volunteers is Alun Pugh, chief executive of the Snowdonia Society: "With its location on the edge of the National Park, the Dolgarrog site is important to the Conwy Valley. It’s very encouraging that Ainscough-Johnston has entered in discussion with community groups about the potential future for this strategic site."

Opportunities for the redevelopment of the site will be developed as part of the consultation. It is envisaged that proposals could include job-creating uses, affordable housing and leisure and amenity uses. Questionnaires will also be made available from www.dolgarrogregeneration.com or www.adfywiodolgarrog.com later this month.