Aberystwyth zip wire plan 'exciting', says local councillor

Aberystwyth's iconic Victorian promenade could soon be seen from a new angle, at a new speed.

Potential plans for a zip wire running from the top of Constitution Hill down to the Royal Pier have been confirmed by Ceredigion council.

Councillor Mark Strong said he hopes it will attract tourists and make the town "an exciting place to be".

Outdoor activity tourism supports more than 8,000 Welsh jobs, according to Visit Wales.

100 mph

Mr Strong said he thought a zip wire would be a good addition to the promenade.

"It's always good to see people having fun," he told BBC Radio Wales.

" I don't think having a zip wire is something that's too intrusive to the promenade."

Last April the longest zip wire in the northern hemisphere opened over Penryhn Quarry in Gwynedd, which attracts around 400 people a day.

Riders whizz 500ft (152m) above a lake at speeds over 160 km/h (100 mph).

Iconic image

Laura Jones, the business development manager at Zip World, which runs the Gwynedd attraction, said the wires can draw attention to history and culture, with minimal affect on the landscape.

"[They are] showing off parts of Wales that would never have been shown otherwise," she said.

Outdoor activity makes a 10% contribution to the Welsh tourism economy, according to Visit Wales, the Welsh Government's tourism team.

With a growing demand for extreme sports, it is hoped the zip wire will boost Aberystwyth's economy.

A council spokesman said that the plan is "very much in its infancy at this time and no commitment installing such an attraction has yet been made.

"An idea such as this must be balanced against the iconic image of the Aberystwyth promenade and the need to preserve the integrity and image of the town."