Villagers living near Snowdon upset at summer influx of athletes racing up the mountain

A VILLAGE at the foot of Snowdon is being overwhelmed by endurance runners, a councillor has complained, as he claims the number of races is blighting the local community.

Residents in Llanberis say more than 30 events are scheduled this year, including virtually every weekend through the spring and summer.

Villagers say races leave them unable to use their cars and swim in a popular lake and that their children can no longer play football in the nearby fields.

Cllr Kevin Jones wants the number of races cut and is urging Gwynedd council to start charging a licence fee for some of the more recent events that have sprung up.

He said: “Gwynedd council has given the green light for at least 30 events to be held in Llanberis during the next few months. This means residents being woken up very early in the morning by those setting up and by the competitors. If there are overnight events then they are being woken up at 2am or 3am by people coming off the mountain.”

The disruption is upsetting villagers who feel their close-knit community is being overwhelmed, he said.

“Residents also have to contend with road closures and lack of parking. Children can’t play football on the Caer

Ddol, as it’s taken up by whatever event is on that weekend.

“Sometimes they can’t even swim in Llyn Padarn lake, as it has been monopolised. The cafés do benefit but then again, on Caer Ddol playing field, mobile catering vans are set up, so the village loses out.”

The longest established races, Râs Yr

Wyddfa (The Snowdon Race) and Marathon Eryri (The Snowdonia Marathon), have been going since the early Eighties.

But their popularity has inspired a series of imitators and more than 30 races are now held every year in Llanberis, often sparking a mass invasion of spectators, organisers and cars.