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The Freedom to choose -
Snowdonia Group has been set up in response to the Snowdonia Green Key
Strategy.
It is a body comprised of both local residents and people from outside
Snowdonia representing a wide range of interests who are bound together by
a deep concern for the future of Snowdonia and the quality of experience
which it can provide.
We are opposed
to the Snowdonia Green Key Strategy for the following reasons:
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There is no ‘traffic movement problem’ in Snowdonia. Even
at the busiest times traffic levels are at a fraction of what they
were prior to the completion of the A55 expressway.
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Roadside parking areas and lay-bys are essential to the
freedom of the individual who, for example may only wish to stop for a
short while to admire the scenery, take photographs etc.
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A compulsory park and ride scheme in Snowdonia is both ill
conceived and unworkable because most mountaineers, hill walkers etc
wish to be at their start point e.g.. Pen y Pass or Ogwen at the same
time i.e.. between 8am and 9.30am and to be picked up around dusk. It
is an obvious fact that there could never be enough buses for these
periods and for the rest of the day the buses would be running around
empty.
In addition, the scheme also ignores the needs of the huge numbers of
visitors who neither climb or hike and simply wish to enjoy the
scenery, picnic, take photographs etc. These people would never use a
park and ride scheme.
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As was demonstrated by the trial park and ride following the
foot & mouth epidemic, the effect on businesses within Snowdonia
would be catastrophic and businesses in the gateway towns would also
suffer due to the car parks being full throughout the day thus
preventing customers from parking.
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No meaningful consultation has taken place with residents,
user groups or visitors and none have been involved in producing the
strategy
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We have
learned from our survey that the majority of visitors to Snowdonia
would go elsewhere if this scheme were to be implemented thus causing
immeasurable damage to the economy of the area.
It is our
view that the Snowdonia Green Key Strategy should be scrapped immediately
and replaced with a new scheme incorporating the following objectives:
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To provide a public transport system which suits the needs of
both visitors and residents and not the ideals of bureaucrats.
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To provide more ‘grass grid’ type car parking areas,
sympathetically positioned and screened with no parking charges.
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To provide new low level footpaths, access points and cycle
paths, together with repairs and improvements to existing paths
viewpoints, picnic areas etc.
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To actively
encourage tourism within Snowdonia by supporting local businesses
which in turn would provide a genuine increase in local employment.
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