| I have read with
dismay the Green Key Strategy - Consultation Draft.
I have been coming
to Snowdonia for many years, both with my family for extended breaks, and with
friends for day or weekend trips. These trips are dependant on the use of my
motor car for many reasons.
My main sport is
paragliding - which is extremely weather dependant. To fly requires the ability
to travel to one of a number of flying sites, the actual site not being known in
advance due to the difficulty in accurately forecasting wind direction and
strength. Often we have to wait for extended periods until the weather
conditions change to allow us to launch. Due to the vagaries of the local
weather it is also sometimes necessary to move between sites and to fly early or
late in the day. The equipment is also bulky and relatively heavy so it
important to be able to have transport to close to the flying site. Due to these
considerations the only practical way for me and other pilots to access the
mountains for flying is using a car.
When on holiday with
my family the car also provides the ability to amend our plans as the weather
changes, provides shelter, and allows us to take the picnic / beach /
sight-seeing / warm weather clothes / cold weather clothes etc etc required for
5 people.
Without the
flexibility and convenience offered by the car there is very little chance that
we would even consider visiting Snowdonia - the grief would not justify the
rewards. I suspect that the majority of tourists will hold similar opinions and
the increased spending of the few who come to the area would not cover the loss
of visitors.
I sincerely hope
these views will be considered when reviewing the proposals.
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