It's interesting to look at the unease aroused by contemporary traffic plans for Snowdonia in the light cast by the Rebecca Riots of 1839-43 in West and South Wales.  The central issue then as now was the direct taxation of road traffic.

For those who don't live in Wales, or don't know much of Welsh social history, a brief outline will be helpful.  These popular disturbances were a backlash against toll-gate charges.  Turnpike roads crossed or joined those maintained by other turnpike trusts and travellers were charged at each intersection in a day's journey.  Feelings eventually overflowed and organised bands, sometimes hundreds in strength, began to gather at night and break up or burn the toll-gates and occasionally the toll-houses.  They were often armed and often on horseback.  Typically they disguised themselves by dressing as women and masking or painting their faces.  They became known as the Rebeccaites. or Rebecca's Daughters, or were just personified as Rebecca.

The name may originate from a story that the leader of one of the earliest actions was a very tall man who was obliged to borrow clothes from a lady known as 'big Rebecca'.  All subsequent local leaders assumed the name.  Generally, however, the movement is associated with a scriptural verse, Genesis 24, 60.  A simplified version reads:

And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her, let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate thee.

The rioters had broad support and some magistrates and juries, ignoring crushing evidence, insisted on acquitting raiders who'd been identified.  In the end a number were convicted and five amongst them were transported to the notorious penal colonies of Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land).  The judgment of historians is that with the subsequent passing of 'Lord Cawdor's Act', consolidating the turnpike trusts and substantially reducing the number of toll-gates, Rebecca won the war.  Despite the violence and the settling of old scores this episode is now regarded as one of the more stirring and heroic moments in Welsh history.

By a strange chance the last toll on a public road in northern Snowdonia (on the Cob at Porthmadog) was lifted only a fortnight ago.  That might look like the end of a process nearly two centuries in completion, the shifting of the burden of the road infrastructure from each individual parish to central government.

Against the tide of history, however, it had been reported earlier in the same month that councillors in Snowdonia were considering the introduction of congestion charges in the area. And, in fact. the ideal of unimpeded movement has been under attack for a number of years.  First we saw new bridges subject to toll charges, then proposals for privately constructed toll-roads.  Voluntary park and ride schemes are in place in some cities and congestion charges in both town and countryside are being introduced or debated elsewhere.

Following disclaimers it's not clear whether Gwynedd County Council or the Park Authority have or have not been talking about a congestion charge scheme for Snowdonia.  For the present the facts that congestion here is extremely localised and is limited to holiday periods and a few weekends a year stand unchallenged.  Most of the arguments against a compulsory park and ride scheme have equal weight against the introduction of congestion charges.  If money must be raised to support the Park or local economy it should come from central government.  As with city parks and museums, many of us feel that there ought to be no tax on enjoying the countryside.  We look with despondancy at an image of a Britain in which we pass from toll-gate to toll-gate again.

What would Rebecca say (or do?) about all this?  We don't know, but maybe Freedom to Choose ought to change its name to New Rebecca or Rebecca's Granddaughters.  And perhaps our Chairman, a very tall man, ought to be addressed --as was customary -- as Becca?

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