AN AMBITIOUS plan to turn Risca into a multi-million pound marina has attracted the attention of a leading French company.

In July, we exclusively revealed plans to transform the town into a tourist mecca with the boating facility and a cable car system ferrying people to the top of Twmbarlwm mountain.

Also incorporated in the scheme would be a hotel to cater for visitors to the area, a skate park, tennis courts and a cafe on top of Twmbarlwm. It could create up to 30 jobs if it goes ahead.

An artist's impression of the leisure park has been submitted to consultants at Caerphilly county borough council, who will now consider the scheme once a corridor study on the canal has been carried out.

Now Keith Griffiths, one of Risca councillors central to the project, says he was contacted by the French-based company Poma Lift GB limited, who have built gondola systems all over the world.

After being supplied with specifications about the size and height of the mountain, Poma Lift GB limited have arranged to fly representatives over to Wales for a site visit some time in September.

Councillor Griffiths said: "They are coming to advise us on how best go about the project and how to apply for European funding.

"They will also probably give us an estimate of how much the job will cost. "They are the leading company in their field and some of their designs are unbelievable.

"This has given us new hope because we will have specialist advice on how to do it and prove that it can be done on a par with other projects they have completed around the world.

"It has certainly been a huge talking point wherever you go in Risca and the surrounding communities.

"One of the most pleasing aspects was the reaction I got from a group of youngsters to the proposed skateboarding park."