£5 PARKING FEE BACKED
Controversial RSPB plan should get go-ahead, say council officers:
PARKING charges at South Stack nature reserve look likely to be introduced despite local opposition.
The RSPB wants to install parking meters at the visitors centre and nearby Tŵr Elin car parks at the beauty spot near Holyhead.
Parking at both sites is currently free, but the RSPB wants to introduce a flat £5 fee. Almost 4,500 have signed an online petition set up by Lisa Hooton, of nearby Llanddeusant, to oppose the charges. “I don’t object to a charge, but £5 is far too much given a lot of people here are not earning much,” she said. “To apply a charge to disabled badge holders is particularly disgraceful. Many people just pop here for a coffee and a piece of cake, and support the RSPB by doing that.”
But Anglesey council officers are recommending its planning committee approve both applications when it meets on Wednesday. This is despite local members, Cllrs Trefor Lloyd Hughes and Dafydd Rhys Thomas, both asking for the application to be “called-in” to committee due to fears charges will lead to motorists parking on the roadside – concerns shared by highways officers.
According to the RSPB, all the proceeds will be reinvested into its facilities. A spokesperson said: “We’re planning to charge £5 for peak and £2.50 for offpeak (October until Easter) for non-members. This charge will allow us to continue centuries-old management of Holyhead’s wonderful heathland.”
Council planning officers wrote: “Objections have been raised that the installation of the parking meter will encourage people to park on South Stack road. This is not a planning matter and consideration will have to be made by the highway authority on its powers to prevent parking on South Stack road.”