Man stages civilian patrol of quarry memorial amid reports of visitor disrespect
TOILET WASTE, DITCHED BARBECUES AND MOTORISTS DRIVING OVER BARRICADES ADD TO TENSIONS BETWEEN TOURISTS AND LOCALS AS COUNCIL SEEKS PARKING SOLUTIONS
AN aggrieved resident said he would patrol over the holiday weekend around a memorial area created to remember the men who worked and died in the world’s second largest slate quarry.
It comes after reports of campers parking on the memorial site in Gwynedd in recent months.
Makeshift barbecues have reportedly been abandoned on the site and chemical toilet waste from motorhomes allegedly discharged nearby.
In one case, locals claimed a visitor urinated on a dedication stone at the Allt Ddu memorial area near Dinorwic quarry.
To prevent disrespectful parking, vexed residents surrounded the circular site with rocks last year.
But over the Easter break, it was claimed converted campervans removed them or simply drove over the improvised barrier.
In the past, Cyngor Gwynedd has considered further parking restrictions there, but a consultation raised a host of objections.
The local authority is now running a pilot project that prevents motorhomes parking overnight in problematic lay-bys, and this may be rolled out if successful.
The Allt Ddu spot, giving easy access to Dinorwic quarry, is a popular parking area and, on Good Friday, local man John Horrigan counted 31 motorhomes and campervans. “It was absolute hell up there,” he said.
Despite this, he said there was parking available if only people had been prepared to walk a little further.
“Parking in itself is not an issue,” he said. “Illegal and inappropriate parking is. It’s ridiculous, it really is.
“A converted campervan moved stones to get on. A 4x4 camper didn’t bother and just drove over the stones and emerging spring flowers.
“I don’t understand why people would do this. It’s disgusting. Who in their right mind would do that? Not only is it disrespectful, it’s senseless.
“They come here to walk, yet can’t be bothered to park a further 50 yards down the road.”
In 2005, a slate monolith commemorating Dinorwic’s quarrymen was erected on a turning circle for local buses.
Two years ago, slate benches were added, each resembling the “Car
Cyrn” quarry wagons that were unique to Dinorwic Quarry.
Both have backrests engraved with quotations and original images drawn by quarrymen.
The project, a collaboration with Padarn Country Park, was part of Gwynedd’s bid to gain World Heritage status for the Slate Landscapes of north west Wales.
Seeing vehicles parked on the site incensed visitors as well as locals.
“I saw a note left on one of the vehicles,” said Mr Horrigan. “I’m not joking, it read: ‘No wonder the locals don’t like us.’ The owners were politely asked to move.”
Tensions between locals and visitors have flared in recent years as the quarry’s popularity has risen.
Gwynedd Council signs warning against overnight parking have reportedly vanished and pleas by locals for double yellow lines have been rejected.
Double parking at busy times is reportedly making the site’s access road dangerous for visitors and residents, especially on bends where people are forced to walk in the middle.
Last August Bank Holiday, the local S3 bus service didn’t go beyond Deiniolen because of the amount of roadside parking.
There is also concern over the lack of toilet and litter facilities at the Allt Ddu parking area.
And for some, the behaviour of some visitors leaves a lot to be desired.
“Zero respect of the locals, area or history,” said one man on social media.
“Just ban parking there and everyone will have to walk up from the payand-display car park in Llanberis. There are toilets and plenty of rubbish bins there.”
On occasions, tempers have flared. A campervan owner claimed locals swore at him and “threatened violence” when he legally parked near the quarry for a few hours.
He said there will always be “prats”, but most visitors were well behaved and they just wanted somewhere safe to park.
Writing on Facebook, he said he’d be happy to pay a “reasonable sum” towards the area’s upkeep if toilets, water and parking are provided.
“Being sh**ty to people who park at the quarry won’t fix anything,” he said.
“It’ll just create more animosity between locals and visitors.”
As part of Gwynedd Council’s Arosfan scheme, an aires-style overnight site for motorhomes and campervans is planned at the Y Glyn, Llanberis.
The site, at the popular lagoons, has its own history of parking chaos.
Other Gwynedd aires are planned in Caernarfon, Criccieth, Pwllheli and Barmouth.
If green-lighted, each will have space for nine paying motorhomes or campervans to park for up to 48 hours, with facilities for water, chemical wastewater, recycling and litter. Campfires and barbecues will be banned.
Mr Horrigan was braced for another torrid time at the Allt Ddu parking area over the early May Bank Holiday. To help prevent indiscriminate parking, he was again keeping an eye on the memorial site.
He claimed some localss have been driven away by holiday traffic chaos.
Others are said to be scared to leave their homes.
“I sat with one in his home who told me he won’t go out at weekends, ‘just in case,’” said Mr Horrigan, who lives near Allt Ddu in a former quarry cottage.
A council spokesperson said: “Over recent years, we have seen high numbers of people visiting popular spots here in Gwynedd, and we encourage people to plan their visit and activities in advance.
“We ask motorists to respect the parking restrictions and keep the roads clear and safe.
“Our parking enforcement officers patrol communities across the county and enforce the parking restrictions that are in place.
“Following concerns raised in the past regarding parking issues in the Allt Ddu area, the council has consulted on introducing specific parking restrictions at this location.
“But, due to a number of objections raised, we will not be proceeding with restrictions at present.
“However, the council is leading on a pilot project to introduce specific orders that will prevent the right of motorhomes to park overnight in laybys in specific locations that have seen examples of irresponsible parking and camping over the past few years.
“We will be monitoring this pilot and considering whether it may be a suitable option in other locations.
“Our message to those visiting Gwynedd in motorhomes and campervans is to ensure that they camp legally and support businesses by using local campsites.
“In addition, as part of efforts to ensure better management of motorhomes and campervans in the area, the council is developing ‘Arosfan’ sites which will offer an overnight location to motorhomes and campervans similar to ‘aires.’
“We expect the first of these sites to be available for this summer and, if successful, we will be considering whether it will be possible to provide further designated sites in the future.”