A North Wales-based civil engineering firm has completed work on key environmental improvements at the grounds of a landmark Eryri tourist attraction.

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK was awarded the contract for the demolition of First Hydro Company’s Llanberis-based Electric Mountain Visitor Centre, which has been closed since late 2018.

Previously used to facilitate tours of Dinorwig Power Station, the building, with the exception of the electricity substation, has been removed and re-instated as an area of grassland that has been earmarked for occasional community events.

Wye Valley Group supported with the demolition of the existing infrastructure ahead of Jones Bros’ six-strong team, including an apprentice, carrying out ducting and civils work.

Activity included a trio of new electric vehicle charging points being fitted on the retained car park and the installation of CCTV. A footpath running the length of the current site was built before topsoiling of the designated grassland area was completed.

Jones Bros project manager Emlyn Roberts, who supervised the work, said:

“The visitor centre had been out of action for five years and was an eyesore with the boards and fencing, so to be able to play a significant part in transforming it was fantastic. As with all our projects, we took a sustainable approach to re-using or recycling on-site materials.

“We also did our utmost to make sure that the effect on the environment and wildlife was minimal.”

Due to the site being located within a Special Landscape Area (SLA), Jones Bros ensured that the existing trees were preserved, while also planting new ones.

Surveys revealed that the visitor centre supported a roost of six pipistrelle bats. Mitigation measures included the provision of five boxes and a settlement within the roof of the sub-station.

Four bird nesting homes were installed, with brash piles created within the adjacent woodland due to the habitat loss and temporary disturbance for hedgehogs.

First Hydro station manager John Armstrong said:

“First Hydro has been impressed with the standard of safety and community engagement during the course of re-purposing the site of the Electric Mountain visitor centre.”

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people. The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.

The company runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which has produced nearly 40% of its current workforce, with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited more than 100 apprentices during the past three years.