PLANS to build Wales's first indoor ski centre in Swansea have not melted away, the developer insisted, despite the lease for the site being up for sale.

Frustrated leaseholder and Mumbles businessman Roger Bateman said it was still his dream to see the proposed indoor ski centre at Morfa materialise, but said he had grown disheartened at the lack of progress.

Vandalism at the disused site was also a problem, he said.

His lease is being advertised with city estate agent Dawsons, which is expecting offers of around £100,000.

Mr Bateman, who owns Reg Bateman travel agent, said contracts had been exchanged four years ago with the developer behind the proposed snowdome, also comprising shops and restaurants — plus two hotels opposite, beside Pluck Lake.

Mr Bateman said he knew the developer had been putting in a lot of work, but said his phone had gone silent.

"For some reason the scheme has gone off the boil," he said.

"The developer used to ring me regularly, but then, all of a sudden, it stopped."

The ski fanatic used to teach people to ski in a High Street warehouse.

He bought the Morfa lease in 1988, and the dry slope began operating in 1989, before closing around five years ago.

Mr Bateman claimed the business suffered when nearby Morfa Retail Park was built — a site he claimed had been earmarked for leisure activities.

"That knocked us for six," he said.

But Mumbles architect Clive Jenkins said his clients, Multi Sport Resort LLP and Edglade Properties, were still working on the multi-million pound snowdome scheme.

"I am glad to say the plan is not dead," said Mr Jenkins.

"It is at a delicate stage."

He said the recession had affected the project, but there was still hope of attracting a Travelodge-style hotel, and three or four-star hotel.

He did not want to be drawn about how the sale of the lease might affect the plans. "I can't speak about that," he said.

Swansea Council, which owns the Morfa dry slope site, has been in discussions with the developer for years.

Council leader Chris Holley said the developer was trying to find ways of progressing when he met them last autumn.

"I know they have contacted the Assembly to see if they could help," he said.

richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk