Bala Lake Railway project given go ahead

PRIME Cymru Volunteer Mentor, Gareth Pearce, has an extensive background in architecture. After hearing of the Bala Lake Railway project, he wanted to lend his support to their planning application. 

The project aims to extend the current Bala Lake Railway into Bala town, bringing with it an influx of visitors and a boost to the local economy. 

Bala Lake Railway Trust hopes to raise £4.5 million to construct the railway, taking the route along the picturesque north shore of the lake, right into Bala High Street. 

The Trust’s mission is to deliver for the community of north Wales, preserving its industrial heritage in addition to offering education and entertainment. 

Image by Kristian Thy

Previous planning applications had been turned down and so Gareth wanted to offer his expertise to help ensure that the latest application was successful. 

Chairman of the Trust, Julian Birley, has been working on the project for over ten years and was grateful when Gareth approached him. 

He said: “Gareth showed a great interest in what we are doing, and he was a great sounding board as to how the project was developing.” 

Julian and his team received the great news in September that they’d been given the go ahead from Snowdonia National Park. A huge relief after many years of hard work and an exciting moment as their dream became a reality.  

Gareth Pearce, Volunteer Mentor

Gareth said: “Mentoring Julian increased my awareness and broadened my expectations of the railway station project. 

“His relentlessly positive mindset enables him to harness the enthusiasm of the people in Bala to support his enormous push forward. 

“I find the process of mentoring to be very stimulating. I profited by being able to peer into his mind and pose questions.”  

The next stage for the Trust is to raise the funds needed to complete the project. If you would like to support the Bala Lake Railway, you can donate here.

If you’d like free mentoring support from PRIME Cymru, please contact us on 01550 721813 or email enquiries@primecymru.co.uk.