● Show charts Snowdonia’s pandemic parking crisis
DOCUMENTARY SHOWS CHAOS AS IT UNFOLDS FOLLOWING LIFTING OF FIRST LOCKDOWN AND TOURISTS POUR IN
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NEW documentary will explore the chaotic scenes in Snowdonia when huge numbers of walkers flocked to the beauty spot after last year’s first lockdown ended.
After months of being told to stay at home, restrictions began to loosen in July, and freedom to travel around the country was returned.
But thousands of people had the same idea, and headed for the mountains of Snowdonia to enjoy the natural beauty of the national park.
As a result, tourists and locals were faced with traffic chaos as vehicles lined the roads around the peaks.
In a new S4C documentary, to be shown tomorrow, Thursday at 9pm, viewers will be shown around the Snowdonia National Park and get a very different picture of the place through the eyes of some of the people who live and work there.
The programme sees Helen Pye, Snowdonia National Park’s head of engagement, preparing for the reopening.
She says: “It’s a bit like waiting for a storm.
“You don’t know if the storm is going to arrive or not and all you can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”
But things become too much quickly after reopening, with endless rows of cars parked illegally and dangerously on Pen y Pass and car parks full by 3am.
By the time staff arrived at 7am, the cars were a hundred yards down the main road, causing serious traffic problems.
Keith Ellis, an assistant warden who directs the cars to the park and ride system, says: “Most people are fine... people have been under great pressure and fear because of the pandemic, everyone wants to come out and get some fresh air.
“It’s nice to see people back. We want to welcome people back – we rely on the money coming to the area – but people also want to be sensible when they turn up.
“There has to be plans A, B and C and if it’s too busy, think if it’s safe to be here.”
One village where many problems have emerged is Llanberis, at the foot of Snowdon.
While wandering the village, local councillor Kevin Morris Jones says that many visitors park in residents-only sites rather than paying at the local car parks.
Beddgelert is another village that attracts a large number of tourists.
Ffion Davies, from the community council, is concerned about how many more people the village can cope with and is feeling more pressure than ever as they now must protect the health, safety and welfare of the community.
Erynne Watson lives with her two young sons in the village and has seen the impact of overcrowding on her young children.
She says: “They don’t want to come out of the house to the village.
“We tried to come down here and one of my kids almost had a panic attack because no one kept the two meters.
“They don’t see that it’s fair – they want to come down to swim in the river and they can’t.”
But as people flock to the village, even though the cafes and pubs are closed, some doubt how much the community is now benefiting from the tourism trade, as many stay in holiday homes and buy food on their way. And concerns about the long-term impact of these developments are rising. Erynne added: “I see in 20 years the community will be lost.” Looking to the future, this programme will consider the new challenges for rural communities as a result of the pandemic – questions and topics that became more prominent than ever during the remarkable summer of 2020. As travel restrictions are eased in Wales, traffic bosses have urged people to park responsibly.
■ Eryri: Croeso Nol? (Snowdonia: Welcome Back?) Thursday, 9pm English subtitles available. On demand: S4C Clic, iPlayer and other platforms A Cwmni Da production for S4C.