National (not a car) park

Visitors are being urged to park considerately when visiting the beautiful Eryri National Park, reports Mark Moran

Preparations are being made to manage traffic and parking problems in the Eryri National Park in North Wales over the coming months. Large numbers of people are expected to visit the scenic mountain region also known as Snowdonia. The park and local authorities say they want to enable people to make the most of Eryri’s stunning scenery in a manageable way, but are prepared to take enforcement action where necessary.

Emyr Williams, Eryri National Park chief executive, said: “We urge visitors to Eryri National Park to plan ahead, make the most of the excellent public transport services in the area and to make responsible parking a priority. With the new car park sensors around Yr Wyddfa and Ogwen, visitors can make informed decisions when choosing where to park, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Let’s work together to protect the natural beauty of this remarkable landscape for all to enjoy.”

Eryri National Park is working with Cyngor Gwynedd’s (Gwynedd Council) and North Wales Police to urge people to act responsibly when visiting Gwynedd’s communities.

A range of measures have been put in place to reduce the number of people parking on roads and verges in the park. It is hoped that a combination of public transport, double yellow lines and car park sensors which tell drivers when spaces are available should help reduce problem parking. The Traffic Wales website and Parcio Eryri app will help visitors check road conditions and parking availability before they arrive. A park & ride service is being offered from designated car parks at which spaces can be pre-booked.

Bws Ogwen, a community-led electric bus service, will run eight times a day between Bethesda and Ogwen. This service was launched last summer and complements the existing T10 Bangor to Corwen bus service.

These measures are being supported by a proactive enforcement campaign that will see the removal of illegally parked vehicles.

Cllr Dafydd Meurig, Cyngor Gwynedd’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “Over the last few years, we have seen high numbers of people visiting popular spots here in Gwynedd. We encourage people to plan their visit and activities in advance; to use the appropriate car parks and take advantage of the opportunity to use the available bus services to explore the area.

“For example, the Sherpa bus service runs regularly connecting popular routes around Yr Wyddfa. This will allow people to park their vehicles in the appropriate car parks before enjoying the mountains and other popular local attractions.

“As a council we work closely with North Wales Police and Eryri National Park to monitor parking trends. Staff from all authorities work together to keep the public safe and we ask residents and visitors to bear this in mind when visiting the area and treat them with respect and kindness at all times.

“We ask motorists to respect the parking restrictions and keep the roads clear and safe – in the past there have been instances where cars have parked illegally and which made it very difficult for emergency services vehicles to pass.

“Staff from North Wales Police and Cyngor Gwynedd, who now have powers to tow vehicles away, will pay particular attention to the Eryri area. Our message is for motorists to park sensibly, but if necessary, we will take appropriate action to remove vehicles that park illegally for public safety.”

There is a desire to avoid the problems seen in 2020, when more than 500 cars were parked on one mountain road near Yr Wyddfa on one July weekend. The following summer proactive enforcement saw dangerously parked cars owed away by police and council staff.

This year, enforcement began over the Easter break, with North Wales Police removing obstructive and dangerously parked vehicles from roads in the area. Almost 40 vehicles parked dangerously on the narrow mountain routes were recovered on Good Friday, including 29 near Llyn Ogwen and nine in Pen y Pass.

Police closed the A5 in north Wales after scores of drivers parked illegally on the road. Highway teams took away cars on the road on Friday near the boundary between Gwynedd and Conwy. There were concerns that emergency vehicles would be blocked and, at one point, an ambulance had to be allowed through the congested scene.

Inspector Gareth Pearson from North Wales Police's roads policing unit, said: “Whilst we appreciate that people are getting out and about to enjoy the weather and stunning scenery, we are urging people to be responsible and think about where they park and to make full use of the park & ride facilities that are available.

“We continue to work closely with our colleagues at Cyngor Gwynedd and the National Park to help reduce the risk to walkers, cyclists and other road users.

“The irresponsible and dangerous parking we have previously witnessed in some areas not only risks lives but also prevents emergency vehicle access. Anybody found to be parked on the clearway or causing an obstruction will have their vehicle removed at their own expense. Please heed the warning.”