Campaign to save mountain centre

The centre will close later this year, when the lease expires

Campaigners in London are fighting to save a 60-bed activity centre in Snowdonia from closure.

The Cwm Pennant Mountain Centre near Porthmadog will close at the end of the year with the loss of up to 12 jobs.

It is run by the London Borough of Hillingdon, which says the £35,000 costs could be put to better use.

Campaigners say the centre has provided a unique educational experience for urban youngsters for the last four decades, and should continue to do so.

It is one of dozens in the Snowdonia National Park run by councils from outside Wales in the 1960s and 1970s to offer outdoor experiences for school children from urban areas.

It will close later this year when Hillingdon's lease expires. It is not known what the building - which is privately-owned - will then be used for.

If we allow it to close it will never, never reopen David Munroe, former group leader

Former youth worker David Munroe, 57, from Hillingdon, used to bring youngsters from schools and youth clubs to Snowdonia during the 1970s.

He said: "I'm so angry the centre is to close. In the present climate of childhood obesity caused by lack of activity, this is an amazing resource.

"Closing this centre will deprive all the flatlanders of the educational experiences they can't get here."

Mr Munroe said the campaign to save the site was gathering momentum after he contacted 14 schools in Hillingdon, and the story was featured in a local newspaper.

"It makes my blood boil that for 40 forty years it has been paid for by the people of Hillingdon, for use by their children," he added.

"If we allow it to close it will never, never reopen."

Susan Jones, who lives in Cwm Pennant, said "It is a great pity that it's closing.

David Munroe said the centre provided "superb" experiences

"I used to do a lot with farm visits, and it was amazing how little the children knew about the animals.

"They employ a few local people and they spend their money locally, they also use services such as the garage in Porthmadog, and I sell eggs to them."

The centre is one of 37 outdoor pursuits centres registered with Gwynedd County Council.

Hillingdon council said the decision to close had been taken by the full council because attendances at the centre had fallen.

Jean Palmer, director of planning and community services, said: "For the past four years, only a quarter of groups using the centre have been from Hillingdon.

"It was therefore decided that funding would be redirected into Hillingdon leisure opportunities that are real assets for the borough, providing state of the art facilities which can be used by local schools, community groups and residents alike."