"2.3 Part of the reason for this is that 92% of visitors arrive by private motor car, many of them being day trippers, with less than 8% utilizing public transport and too few staying for extended periods. Indeed the length of stay for holidays in Snowdonia has decreased and the area is increasingly being viewed as a second holiday destination."

Its not the use of cars that cause low spend in Snowdonia compared to the Lake District (ELD), it's the attractiveness of the facilities. This plan will do nothing to improve these (see "local spending" below).

As for arriving by car for a short break rather than by train for a main holiday, this is inevitable, Wales is not a main holiday
destination any more and never will be, it hasn't got the climate, the food, the beaches etc. It's a weekend and short break destination. I go to Spain for my "main" holiday, its friendly, warm, has good and cheap food and drink, wonderful mountains and beaches, numerous historical towns and enough castles to last a lifetime. 

The idea of people arriving by train for two weeks summer hols in Snowdonia sounds like something from the 1930's.

Environmental issues

This proposal claims to be "green" but does nothing to alleviate the heavy through traffic on the A5, merely replacing the last few miles of car journeys with buses. All attention is focussed on removing "long term" (all day) parking from one place and moving it to another. I therefore conclude that the true aims of the project are economic, therefore they could be achieved by charging for day long parking where people need to park and using the money to subsidise buses for locals, if that is what is required. A redeemable parking fee scheme could attract walkers to local shops.

Practicality

When I visit Snowdonia I arrive by car. This will not change, trains are expensive and inconvenient, I would not want to drag all my luggage and paraphernalia for a week in a remote cottage across London and then onto a train, its just not practical (let alone things like mountain bikes and kayaks). Even if transport to the cottage was available at the Snowdonia end, which it isn't. 

Local spending

The report says "only" 90% of people spend locally, this sounds a high percentage to me. If the spend per head is lower then the ELD), that is because ELD has better facilities especially things like food shops and restaurants. (I do try and patronise the butchers in Llanrwrst, but this is difficult as they are only open during "walking" hours.) 

Timing

4.5 In the low season when demand would be less, long-term parking [albeit limited] would be available in the core area. However an excellent bus service would be available throughout the year to provide visitors and local people with both a reliable bus service and the reassurance of being able to travel without depending on a car. 

I visit Snowdonia in winter, usually for a week. I have grave doubts as to the ability of a bus service to deliver me to the start of my walk at dawn (essential in short winter days). The report is vague about the amount of parking to be allowed in winter.

I stay near Betws y Coed and would have to drive to the gateway and get bus/buses. How long would it take to get to Rhydd ddu for the Nantlle ridge, a hour? More? 

No provision appears to be made for getting to the east side of the Carneddau above Trefriw, there is currently a car park up there I use a lot, will it be closed?

4.6 The road-side space thus released could be employed to help develop safe cycle and pedestrian routes through the National Park and the local area. 

This seems quite illogical, you cannot create a linear path from car parking areas, they are discontinuous. 

The bottom line

The proposal seems to penalise "serious" walkers needs while doing nothing about through traffic or sightseers. If I am not allowed to get to the hills from the cottage I rent by a simple car journey and have to wait half an hour for a bus to take an age to get me to the start of my walk (how long will the journey take if offloading kayaks and bikes?) then I just wont be coming anymore. 

Its not an issue of costs, by all means put a toll on the A5 or have weekly licences for car access, it's a matter of effectiveness. Cars are expensive, so why are they so popular over buses? Because they do the job.

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