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Thank
you for the consultation document received some weeks ago. I now return:-
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the
response form completed as best I can,
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this
letter setting out my broad conclusions, and
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a
set of supporting notes upon individual paragraphs of the document.
In
addition to studying the document, I have accessed the website ‘Freedom
to Choose - Snowdonia' at a recent date and spoken to friends who are
resident in the affected area.
My
broad conclusions are as follows:-
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That
the partnership’s expressed aims of conserving the natural attractions
and enhancing the economic well-being of the area are to be welcomed,
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That
the depressed state of agriculture generally' and particularly in marginal
hill-farming conditions, justifies thorough review of the economic
“engines" available to the area,
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That
the recent incidence of foot and mouth has shown clearly that tourism is,
or can be, of least comparable economic benefit in hill areas to the
economic product of its agriculture,
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That
the benefits of increased tourism and tourism spend are
the most readily available potential sources of such benefit if suitable
policies are adopted,
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That
the main policies set out in the consultation document would be likely to
be wholly counter-productive to these aims and would lead to a large
reduction in benefit from visitor-spend,
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That
the proposed policies can only be explained as coming from local political
or other pressures from persons who regard visitors to the area as
intruders in their private fiefdoms and who are insensitive to the
economic benefits which can be brought by tourism and, indeed, by
increased tourism,
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That,
in response to those pressures, the persons who have drawn up the policies
have taken an entirely shallow, misconceived and, possibly,
"academic” view of the needs of their “clients”, the actual and
potential visitors or, even, have failed to considered those needs at all,
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That
many of the factors which would deter visitors strongly are in the
ill-considered details which imposition of the policies would entail
necessarily (e.g., a fallible bus service, imposed lengthening of travel
times, inflexibility, restrictions on luggage, changes of weather, etc),
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That
the views of local business entrepreneurs, as seen on the website, are a
good and close 'litmus test' of the likely reaction of visitors, their
principal customers, that their views are worthy of great respect,
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That
the views expressed to date on the website opposing the partnership's
policies are to be supported virtually entirely
I
oppose and reject the greater part of the partnership's proposals as set
out in the consultation document.
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