There's money to be made in slate waste from Penrhyn

Millions of tonnes of slate waste could be put to good use by creating nearly 90 jobs in north Wales, and safeguarding 80 more.

The plan to carry the waste by train would also mean improvements to the Conwy Valley rail line.

The proposals involve an investment of more than £45m, and will be discussed by councillors in Gwynedd on Tuesday.

The Alfred McAlpine company, which describes itself as the world's major producer of natural slate, wants to transport two million tonnes of crushed waste from its quarries in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and Penrhyn in Bethesda.

New tax

Slate waste has become a competitive product due to a new tax on traditional building materials such as sand and gravel.

McAlpine's Ffestiniog quarry would use the Conwy Valley rail line, which would be upgraded at a cost of £17.5m.

The private sector is willing to invest more than £10m. It is hoped that grants from the Welsh assembly and European Union will meet the rest of the cost.

Gwynedd councillors will be urged to support the proposals.

A recent report by consultants estimated that 48 full-time jobs could be created when one million tonnes of crushed slate is produced.

Timetables

That would rise to 88 jobs coming when the capacity doubles.

In addition, it help to protect another 81 existing jobs in the quarries.

However, the report said that £10m in public funding would be needed to ensure the go-ahead. A potential source of this would be Objective One money from Europe.

The report warned, however, that it could be a problem to match the timetables of freight trains with those of passenger trains.

A campaign has been under way for some time to boost the Conwy Valley line as a tourist attraction.