Radio control car track go-ahead for Gwynedd club

The cars and bikes are currently run in car parks

A Gwynedd club is to build what it believes to be the first radio-controlled car track in north Wales.

The site will cover an area of 349 square metres on former quarry land at Glan y Pwll, Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Members of the local radio controlled car club Blaenau Angry Scones said the track is needed as there is currently no-where to run the cars.

Gwynedd councillors backed the plan with conditions, including only allowing the use of electric cars.

Mike Williamson, racing secretary with the Blaenau Angry Scones (so-called because they meet in a cafe) club said: "At the moment we use public roads and car parks, but it's not safe as a lot of kids do it."

He said interest in the cars and motor bikes had grown from an initial one poster in the cafe window to a club with 26 members and "more waiting to join once we have a track".

Racing the cars was a "good laugh" he added.

More people are waiting to join the Blaenau Angry Scones if the track is built

"It gets you out competing and you meet loads of different people and we all get on," he said.

Fellow club member Medwyn Davies said it was a popular hobby in the town.

"Some are electric, some nitro (nitromethane) and some petrol, but the electric ones are fastest, and can get up to 50 or 60 mph," he said.

"It gives you the chance to live the dream of driving in somewhere like Silverstone," he added.

The planning application states the surface of the racing circuit will be tarmac, broken slate, solid and recycled artificial turf.

As well as the track there will be an 'off-road' area and a six-metre long control platform.