Park debates army range clean-up

The Trawsfynydd ranges may take two more years to clear of shells, says MoD

A ban on public access to a part of Snowdonia used as an artillery range may be extended while the clear-up of unexploded shells continues.

On Wednesday, Snowdonia National Park's planning committee discusses a Ministry of Defence (MoD) request to continue a direction or ban imposed in the summer.

Contractors have said locating the shells on the 250-acre ranges at Trawsfynydd could take two more years.

The site is two-and-a-half miles east of the A470 near Bronaber, Gwynedd.

The ranges were used during World War Two and later by the Royal Artillery to train thousands of national service gunners.

The area had been considered as "open country" under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and previously had been accessible to the public.

But the park authority imposed the access restriction after the MoD made approaches about the unexploded ordnance.

Park authority members are being recommended to approve the direction.