Prestigious Snowdon Summit Project for Stone Central - April 2008

The final phase of fixing granite bullnose blocks and granite cladding to the roof of the new £8.3 million Snowdon Visitor Centre will commence next month by Prestwich based stonemasonry and stone cladding specialists Stone Central (NW) Ltd. As part of the contract for Carillion, Stone Central (NW) Ltd will install 150 sections of granite bullnose, which edges the roof, and 370 square metres of granite cladding. When opened, the new centre will provide visitors of all ages with the opportunity to learn more about the mountain’s significance as a recreational, environmental and cultural resource. Ian Mercer, Managing Director of Stone Central (NW) Ltd, commented: "We are delighted to be working on such a prestigious project. Our main focus of work is the centre's roof, which is being built with natural materials and will merge with the sloping contours of the mountainside in an unobtrusive way." One complication for the workforce is that visibility has to be clear enough for a helicopter to lift stone to the 1,085 metre summit, but even on clear days the helicopter cannot operate at times when the summit is busy with walkers. The building site is the highest of its kind in England and Wales. Jane Buxey, director of Stone Federation Great Britain, is full of praise for Stone Central saying, "It's a great credit to Ian and his team that they are doing so well, but that’s what we have come to expect from federation members."