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| £8.4m Snowdon summit cafe opens | £8.4m Snowdon summit cafe opens |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A new £8.4m visitor centre on the summit of Snowdon is being officially opened by First Minister Rhodri Morgan. | |
| The opening of Hafod Eryri later marks the end of nearly three years of demolition and building work 3,560ft (1,085m) above sea level. | |
| The granite building is designed to blend in with the landscape and cope with extreme weather while a glass wall offers Wales's "window on the world". | The granite building is designed to blend in with the landscape and cope with extreme weather while a glass wall offers Wales's "window on the world". |
| Prince Charles had called the previous cafe "the highest slum" in Wales. | Prince Charles had called the previous cafe "the highest slum" in Wales. |
| More than half a million people walked or took the train up Snowdon last year. | More than half a million people walked or took the train up Snowdon last year. |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan was expected to walk up the mountain, for the official opening later. | First Minister Rhodri Morgan was expected to walk up the mountain, for the official opening later. |
| The inside of the building features Welsh oak Uphill battle to build mountain cafe Rescue warning over new cafe | The inside of the building features Welsh oak Uphill battle to build mountain cafe Rescue warning over new cafe |
| Mr Morgan said Snowdon was "one of the wonders of Wales" and said the new visitors centre "does justice to that proud and very ancient mountain". | Mr Morgan said Snowdon was "one of the wonders of Wales" and said the new visitors centre "does justice to that proud and very ancient mountain". |
| He added: "This new centre will allow visitors of all ages and physical ability to learn more about the mountain's significance as a unique recreational, environmental and cultural resource." | He added: "This new centre will allow visitors of all ages and physical ability to learn more about the mountain's significance as a unique recreational, environmental and cultural resource." |
| Snowdonia National Park Authority chairman Caerwyn Roberts said it was one of the most important days in the history of the national park. | Snowdonia National Park Authority chairman Caerwyn Roberts said it was one of the most important days in the history of the national park. |
| The building was designed by architect Ray Hole, and is built to withstand extreme weather conditions. | The building was designed by architect Ray Hole, and is built to withstand extreme weather conditions. |
| Winds can reach 150mph, the annual rainfall is more than 5m and the temperature can get down to minus 20 degrees centigrade. | Winds can reach 150mph, the annual rainfall is more than 5m and the temperature can get down to minus 20 degrees centigrade. |
| Poor weather meant more than 70 construction days were lost. | Poor weather meant more than 70 construction days were lost. |
| Tegwyn Williams was the man in charge of the site for contractors Carillion, and he admits that he is glad the project is coming to an end. | Tegwyn Williams was the man in charge of the site for contractors Carillion, and he admits that he is glad the project is coming to an end. |
| More than once I've thought we'd never get here Tegwyn Williams, clerk of works | More than once I've thought we'd never get here Tegwyn Williams, clerk of works |
| "More than once I've thought we'd never get here," he said. | "More than once I've thought we'd never get here," he said. |
| "We've had days when we could not get here. | "We've had days when we could not get here. |
| "We've had to walk down to Rocky Valley (half way) at the end of a working day because the train could not get to us... and it was scary when the whole train rocked because of the wind. | "We've had to walk down to Rocky Valley (half way) at the end of a working day because the train could not get to us... and it was scary when the whole train rocked because of the wind. |
| "But it's good to see it finished and it looks good," he added. | "But it's good to see it finished and it looks good," he added. |
| Snowdonia National Park Authority chairman Caerwyn Roberts said it was one of the most important days in the history of the national park. | Snowdonia National Park Authority chairman Caerwyn Roberts said it was one of the most important days in the history of the national park. |
| Mr Roberts said the official opening of the granite structure was a "celebration" of the success of the initiative to replace the old Snowdon cafe, which was built in 1935 and designed by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. | Mr Roberts said the official opening of the granite structure was a "celebration" of the success of the initiative to replace the old Snowdon cafe, which was built in 1935 and designed by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. |
| "Five years ago the authority decided to commit the equivalent of its entire annual budget to one project, a project located 3,500ft up at the top of a mountain," said Mr Roberts. | "Five years ago the authority decided to commit the equivalent of its entire annual budget to one project, a project located 3,500ft up at the top of a mountain," said Mr Roberts. |
| "If it wasn't for the determination and the perseverance of staff, members, and especially the builders, we wouldn't be here today and therefore I sincerely thank them," he said. | "If it wasn't for the determination and the perseverance of staff, members, and especially the builders, we wouldn't be here today and therefore I sincerely thank them," he said. |
| The cafe part will open from 0800 BST to 2000 BST each day, and the staff who remain on-site will ensure that it will open even if the train cannot bring in the day staff. | The cafe part will open from 0800 BST to 2000 BST each day, and the staff who remain on-site will ensure that it will open even if the train cannot bring in the day staff. |
| There is also a shop area, toilets, disabled lift, and the whole area in the building is used as an interpretation space. | There is also a shop area, toilets, disabled lift, and the whole area in the building is used as an interpretation space. |
| The cafe area is not yet open to the public as the building has yet to be "signed off". | The cafe area is not yet open to the public as the building has yet to be "signed off". |
| So anyone depending on it for a cup of tea at the summit should check before starting off. | So anyone depending on it for a cup of tea at the summit should check before starting off. |
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| The difficulties of building on the summit of Snowdon | The difficulties of building on the summit of Snowdon |