Bid to tackle parking problems at Snowdon
TALKS OVER TRAFFIC ISSUES AT UK’S BUSIEST MOUNTAIN
APLAN to tackle the transport and parking issues around Wales’ highest mountain is in the works.
Increasing visitor numbers to Snowdon have put pressure on parking areas which are limited in number and fill up quickly.
As the most popular mountain in the UK, it attracts nearly 600,000 people every year.
It is estimated that, in August, car parks are over their capacity on 27 days out of 31, with visitor numbers increasing year on year.
Bus services from nearby Llanberis, Beddgelert and Betws y Coed have been introduced to try to alleviate the problems, but these have been described as “limited and inadequate” by walkers and climbers.
In a bid to address the problem, the Snowdonia National Park Authority is bringing together representatives of organisations and landowners responsible for managing the mountain at grassroots level through the Snowdon Partnership.
Catrin Glyn, Snowdon Partnership officer, said the plan will try to ensure the needs of local users are met and to be more sustainable, as well as lessening the impact on local communities while enhancing visitors’ experiences.
She said the first step will be
to commission a study of the area in relation to parking and transport issues, before implementing any recommendations. “One of the key issues raised over and over again when we were developing the Snowdon Partnership Plan was the parking problems in the area,” she said.
“Car parks are increasingly beyond capacity in peak season and there are major problems caused by parking in inappropriate locations.
“This has caused difficulties for local communities and road safety issues.
“This initial study will pave the way in providing a fresh new approach to parking and transport in the area.”
Cllr Gareth Wyn Griffith, Gwynedd council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “Some £3.2m has been invested in transport infrastructure through the Green Key Initiative between 2002 and 2012.
“The main objective of the Green Key Project was to develop opportunities to generate revenue in order to support the public transport requirements in Northern Snowdonia and to help maintain some of the footpaths in the area.
“We believe that the Snowdonia Partnership is essential in order to ensure that we work collaboratively in order to build on the success of the past to meet the challenges of the future.”
Walkers’ groups have called for more park-and-ride services in the surrounding areas to alleviate the pressure on Snowdon by making other mountains more accessible.
They have also called on the Snowdon Sherpa buses to operate more frequently and for longer.
There is currently an hourly service from 8am until late afternoon between Llanberis and Pen-y-Pass, supplemented by a second bus service on weekends.
The Ogwen Valley, which features Tryfan, the Glyderau and Carneddau peaks, is served by a bus that operate just twice a day on Saturdays and Sundays only in summer.