A fund-raising consultant will now be approaching all the backers to ask for more money because the project, the authority says, is "too important for Llanberis, Snowdonia, Wales and beyond." The present cafe was designed by Clough Williams-Ellis who constructed the Italianate village of Portmeirion, and is run by the Snowdon Mountain Railway company who lease it from the National Park. The summit of Snowdon attracts 400,000 walkers and train visitors each year. The plans would see the current con-crete building replaced by a cafe finished in stone and non-reflective glass, with the roof-line softened to blend in with the rock at either end, and the colour of the stone blending with grey skies. Prince Charles has refused to comment on the new plans. But Snowdonia Society policy director Rob Owen welcomed the proposals, not least because losing the cafe would mean axing 10-12 jobs. He added that the society was keen to ensure local products were used in building work and that sunlight reflecting off the metal and glass was kept to a minimum. Alan Kendall, from the railway company, said the new building "offered a much better visitor experience". "It will improve the quality," he said. A firm of award-winning architects, Furneaux Stewart, has already been appointed. If everything falls into place, work should start in September 2005. | 
