Upgrading of Pen y Fan car park delayed

PLANS to expand the most popular access point for visitors making their way up Pen y Fan won’t materialise this summer, it is understood.

With South Wales’ highest peak getting busier every year, there are plans in motion to upgrade Pont ar Daf car park – the most popular access point for visitors.

Plans unveiled in January included a National Trust scheme to increase parking spaces to 263, with secure facilities for cyclists, at the site, just off the A470. The current car park was said to cause “acute strains in the area”, with around 250,000 visitors taking a trip to the tourist hotspot every year.

While plans are still in motion, it is understood the upgrade won’t get underway before the summer is over. The proposals in January also included car parking charges – inline with local pricing but free for Trust members – being introduced.

After a consultation on the plans ended in January, National Trust says preparations are now under way to submit extra details to support its original planning application.

A statement from National Trust said: “Following the consultation in January preparations are underway to submit additional information to support our original planning application for the Pont ar Daf car park upgrade.

“As part of this process, a request was received from the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority to complete archaeological investigation works which are now underway.

“Once complete, the Trust will submit the additional information to support the planning application.

“This will include a post-consultation report, detailing responses to the recent public consultation and how these have been reflected in the re-submitted application. This will be released once formally submitted.”