Calls for park and ride scheme to solve parking problems in Snowdonia as tourists descend on region

Calls have been made for a park and ride scheme to be introduced for tourists visiting in Snowdonia in the wake of yesterday’s parking chaos.

Videos shared on Twitter and Facebook showed hundreds of drivers parked indiscriminately as tourists returned to North Wales in their masses over the weekend.

The problem was particularly bad at Pen y Pass and the Nant Peris Pass with police required to attend to help the council to deal with the situation.

A local councillor has now suggested a park and ride scheme should be introduced in the area to alleviate the issues.

Porthmadog east councillor Nia Jeffreys was cycling in the area yesterday morning, where she saw the full extent of the difficulties for herself with traffic forced to pass in single file.

Speaking to the BBC Radio Wales Breakfast programme this morning, she strongly criticised the behaviour.

She said: “It was the worst I’ve ever seen it – it was so scary.

“It was dangerous from a road safety point of view but there was also no social distancing.

“There was no common sense or regard for other people. It was just really selfish and shocking.

“It’s such a dilemma for the local people because we’re between the devil and the deep blue sea.

“I’ve had local restaurant owners on the phone to me in tears because we need the tourists back for our economy, but whilst they’re not respecting the environment or people it’s very difficult.

“As locals we’re going to have to avoid some of those iconic places we love if we’re going to have so many people visiting.”

A number of suggestions have been made for how the parking issues can be addressed.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones has questioned whether a tourist tax or congestion charge should be brought in.

https://twitter.com/ArfonJ/status/1285141508719607809?s=20

Cllr Jeffreys, who is also Gwynedd Council’s cabinet member for corporate support, said she felt introducing a park and ride scheme could be a possible solution, which would also encourage tourists to spend more money in the surrounding area.

She said: “This has been a problem in Pen y Pass in the past with lots of people parking there, but never in the same way as yesterday with so much stupidity and lack of common sense.

“I don’t think you can plan for that level of people not abiding by the Highway Code and not showing respect for everyone.

“There is an opportunity now as we move forward for looking at park and ride.

“People could come and spend some time in the towns and villages and spend some money there then go on the park and ride and go up Yr Wyddfa.

“Things like that we’ve been looking at and hopefully we’ll be able to move them forward because it was shocking what happened yesterday at Pen y Pass.”

Please DO NOT use the boathouse fore court as a car park. We need this space for crew to park incase of a shout and to get the lifeboats out. You are potentially putting lives at risks parking here. #RNLI #Respect #volunteers pic.twitter.com/vvg6sGAPTn

— Barmouth Lifeboat (@RNLI_Barmouth) July 19, 2020

The immediate area surrounding Snowdon was not the only place which experienced parking difficulties yesterday.

The RNLI shared images of motorists blocking access to the Barmouth lifeboat station, which they said was potentially putting lives at risk by preventing crews from going out to calls.

Police also reported problems with people littering on the Great Orme in Llandudno.

Officers have called for visitors to respect the local area and either dispose of their rubbish appropriately or take it home with them.

A number of complaints received today in relation to families leaving large amounts of rubbish on The Great Orme.
This litter has now been cleaned up by officers.
Please take you rubbish home, this is unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/9TWh0xDTMI

— NWP West Conwy Coastal (@NWPWestConCoast) July 19, 2020