THE URDD Centre at Llangrannog is looking to extend its existing ski slope facilities to cope with rising demand.

An application has been lodged with Ceredigion County Council planners for the scheme, alongside the £3m major redevelopment of the site which is already being considered.

Llangrannog Ski Centre was built in 1989 and is one of the few dry ski slopes in Wales. Public and community use as well as use by the children at the residential centre has increased significantly since then.

Hundreds of thousands of children have skied down the slope, but the centre is seeing a need for development and expansion to cope with the demand and expectations 30 years later.

In its application, the centre says: “We have received grant funding from Sports Wales specifically to extend the current slope to provide a new nursery slope and also to develop a slope that can cater for freestyle skiing – the only one of its kind in Wales.

“The slope would extend the area of the ski slope – the new overall width is no wider than it is at the moment and no higher than it is at the moment but fills in the stepped areas to make it one large rectangle.

“The land being developed is currently waste land/shrubs which is fenced around the current ski slope. It will require some excavation work and landscaping to ensure the degree of the incline matches the current slope.”

The new slope would include a new nursery slope at the bottom of the slope, specifically for beginners. The material used would be much more user-friendly than the current material as it would be foam membrane rather than carpet.

An additional nursery slope would mean the centre is able to double the amount of beginners’ lessons. Additionally the second slope would also be accessible for disability skiing and groups with additional needs

Increased provision of another slope and new jumps would significantly improve the recreational opportunities at Llangrannog for the general public and repeat customers who use the centre.