General Comments on the Report.

The basis of the report in concentrating on Traffic seems to have lost the economic elements contained in previous reports.

The basic concept of  'Gateways' seems flawed and does not ensure the long term future of the wilderness of Snowdonia, nor does it assist the majority of its dispersed population who have lived here for many generations. 

It also does little to preserve the culture and language but places the visitors in 'ghettos' which will bring long term problems with resident parking schemes etc.

For the language and the culture to survive we must encourage its use and encourage visitors to understand the differences between their culture and ours and to value it with us.

Notes: 

The strategy was when proposed in the Northern Snowdonia Study 'a radical one, which would take its proponents into new and largely uncharted territory.' We believe it has gone too far.

To try to tackle the problem of parking as a traffic problem in isolation is mistaken.

The report has a bias to transport in what is essentially a people servicing and accommodation problem and is unnecessarily restrictive. It seems to be an extension of the Pen y Pass car park policies of restrictions, which was and still is contentious. 

It does not take into account the contributions, which can be made by the local farming communities in the provision of accommodation, services etc, which was mentioned in the Northern Snowdonia Report and could have been developed.

Footpaths starting from or passing conurbation's and regionalised B&B's could improve the overall distribution of visitors and ease the pathway erosion problems.

Information provided at decision making points about facilities, points of interest and themed heritage  features (1282 onwards) to be visited or seen on or near the footpaths with times to reach certain points. E.g. Welsh Castles, Twr Abercaseg, Iron Age Pen Dinas. Dinas Dinorwig, (behind Gors Bach Inn) Dolwddelan, Parc Gelli Tregarth  fox traps etc. 

Clear and easily available grants to redevelop a network of farm buildings as B&B's. would improve income for local people and distribute visitors around the Park.

Forget the 13% who currently spend nothing in the park and focus on those who do, and divert their consumer choices to more environmentally viable schemes by providing information on those choices.

Marketing Snowdonia to independent travelers and information seekers through climbing and other magazines with information from their peer groups about other less well known sections of the park. Too much of the history portrayed is mythical, when there is factual history.

Lack of appreciation in report of access required to Snowdonia by the many mountain training groups in area e.g. The Conwy Centre or Joint Services Centre.

Capel Curig is a focus for climbing as the National Mountain Centre and as such should provide a central point for information and transport as well as an education for environmentally friendly use of Snowdonia. see 6.48 bullet 4.

The Northern Snowdonia Study mentioned Positive parking 6.64 recommended signage, leaflets and maps as the basis for regulation. This does not appear in the current report.

Waunfawr mentioned in original report 6.58 now has new park & ride facilities alongside the railway. As it is a good example of park & ride into and from Caernarfon, footpath development in this area could act as a pilot scheme for this type of development. Waunfawr and Nantlle Valley can act as gateways into the park. Nantlle Valley needs footpath development for one of the most significant industrial heritage (Cornish pump House etc.) and environmental disaster areas in Snowdonia. Access onto the hills needs to be improved. The Rhyd Ddu path to Lyn Dywarchen is an example. Political boundaries should not influence access to Snowdonia. 

The large student population and their use of Snowdonia have not been given any special consideration although we believe they form an important user and peer influence group with many studying specific habitats. 

The specific use of Bangor as a well used rail head gateway with swift access from large centres of population into the area is not recognised in the report.

Resident parking schemes are likely to cause civil friction in gateways where tourist expectations are for visitor care.

Voluntary and designed visitor distribution and parking is more effective than regulation particularly in a tourist area. see 6.7.

A Wales travel pass scheme would be a better marketing unit than a ' Pass Snowdonia' and provide a wider focus for those proposing to come to Snowdonia providing the possibility of rationalisation of consumer choice.

Comments on Specific paragraphs of the Report.

Facilities, Services and Attractions

0.1.1

T1.1 Our group is concerned that no local needs can be satisfied without an assessment of what is to be marketed and to whom. This raises concerns about what is to be appraised of visitors needs and expectations.

0.1.2 The omission of the Nantlle Valley from detailed consideration in the report is a great concern as it contains some of the most significant Industrial Historic remains in the area and could act as an access point from the main tourist area of the Llyn peninsula.

T1.2 The business groups in the community need stimulus in the direction of the Tourism and servicing areas to ensure that the needs of visitors are met and the income maximised.

T1.3 Whilst we see the need for information points for tourists. We recognise that the most important element in any marketing exercise is personal recommendation. We also question the basic concept of ‘Gateways’ as it seems to us that this is the old ‘Honeypotting‘ idea in a new guise. If we want to generate income in the community, which is dispersed around Snowdonia the best way is to ensure developments in the individual communities not in the large industrial centres. Access will also be dispersed by having tourists diversely distributed around the Park instead of centrally based. This has advantages of ensuring traffic is distributed and wear and tear on the park is distributed too.

Individual characteristics of divers areas of the park can be marketed.

More level footpaths need to be developed to ensure that the traffic is distributed and visitors can gain access to various parts of the park from wherever they are located in it.

T1.4 Our group doubt if there is a demand for storage of cycles and would prefer this money to be spent on the development of footpaths around historic sites, which may sustain this activity.

0.1.3 We were bemused by the term 'marketing chains', as it seems to imply that there can be efficient marketing by passing visitors from one marketing base to another.

T1.5 The jargon terminology in this target is a concern to the group, as it does not make a clear definition of the target.

0.1.4 we have reservations that it is possible to achieve a car free exploration of Snowdonia.

T1.6 We note that the cultural specific identity of history and art are omitted from this target. The story of glaciation and man's influence on the landscape of the Ogwen needs to be told.

O1.5 We applaud the need to identify and promote the distinctive characteristics of each town, but are concerned that these proposals will change them irreversibly eradicating their historical characteristics, before they are recorded.

We would also like to see the distinctive characteristics from each other based on historical facts, made available to visitors and local communities. e.g. the Carreg Cennan of Bethesda. and an exhibition of the Carved slates of Dyffryn Ogwen.

Integrated and Efficient transport.

02.1 Concerns were expressed that the concentration of visitors in ‘Gateways’ would create rush hour traffic in those centres.

T2.1 We note that in spite of the large student population who use the Snowdon National Park that Bangor with an important rail station has not been mentioned.

O2.2 We consider their are more important things to assess than the feasibility of introducing a bus service. The heritage of the area is largely unexplored except by amateur groups, Gwynedd Archaeological Trust and the Royal Commission and much of this work remains unpublished and unknown.

This needs to be done to ensure that the correct information is available to visitors. Bus transport can be useful to walkers if entry points and exit points from planned routes are different.

Here we noted that the numbers in the Welsh and English versions were not the same. We have adopted the Welsh version, which is sequential.

T2.2 We note again that Bangor Rail station is omitted from this group of appropriate links.

O2.4 We are concerned that the information made available to cyclists is accurate and up to date.

T2.3 ‘Construct a series of priority’ should read ‘strategic’. Priority should be given to low level footpaths from diverse B& B’s.

We are concerned about cycle paths at Rhyd ddu and Penygroes.

O2.5 There are concerns over whether cyclists and walkers will be integrated.

O2.6 We agree with this objective.

O2.7 No comment

T2.4 We note that Bangor is included in this target.

O2.8 No comment.

T2.5 NO comment.

O 2.9 We note the bias to cycles.

O2.10 No comment.

T 2.6 Information should be provided while they are waiting for buses about historic sites which may be visited.

O2.11 No comment.

T 2.7 No comment.

Traffic Management

O3.1 as a general note we believe that the report is ill conceived and that visitors should be dispersed across the park. Many villages and farm groups are capable of development and would ensure that the   traffic management would not be subject to large pressure points in specific areas. 

Where there are existing car parks bridges should be established to allow footpath developments to take place at low level. Two across the river from the car park at Bethesda are proposed in the NEWIDEM report Bethesda plan.

We believe that climbers and walkers use their vehicles as staging posts and that they want to get out of wet clothes and have refreshment as soon as possible after they come off the mountain. The application of an American solution to a Welsh problem is not likely to meet with success.

T3.1 Parking restrictions are not likely to assist the locals or visitors to achieve their objectives.

O3.2 No comment

T3.2 No comment

O 3.3 The parking along the roadside is a result of the road widening scheme and is unlikely to be able to be reversed. It is unfortunate use of roadside space and could be alleviated with off road car parks for climbers shielded from view by trees. 

There are many historic sites situated near the roads including the drovers road, which could be revived as a low level footpath to lead climbers to central facilities. Similarly the Pennant road could be utilised in some areas.  There are magnificent views of the falls at the pack horse bridge over the Ogwen from this old road.

T3.3 The programme of work could include historic elements. Too much emphasis has been placed on traffic and landscape and not enough on man’s influence upon it.

O3.4 Resident parking in inner cities has led to resentment and territorial disputes. It does not seem appropriate to introduce it here.

T3.4 A review of local parking would be welcomed in parallel with other dispersal of visitor policies.

O3.5 Major work needs to be implemented in traffic direction signs so that heavy traffic does not use the A5 instead of the motorway and A55 express way. There is still a major sign on the M6 near Birmingham, which directs heavy traffic to North Wales up the A5.

O3.6 missing

O3.7 ‘Gateway structures’ across roads are grotesque intrusion into the landscape and should not be countenanced under any circumstances.

O3.8 Promotion of a good service would be worthwhile. But it is a chicken an egg situation, without good service there is no demand and without demand there is no use of the service.

O 3.9 Introducing comprehensive travel information is only of use if people want to use a good transport system. The element missing from this opportunity is the staging post use of vehicles in personal transport.

T 3.5 ? Real time passenger information will only be useful if there is a regular bus service and an service adjustable to the demand. These criteria are more likely to be met in the inner cities.

T3.6 ? Real time travel information ports are likely to rely on radio transmitted information which in the mountainous area concerned is likely to be unreliable. Even if it is not the weather conditions in the mountains will mean that traffic conditions will be uncertain.

O3.10? We are glad to be consulted and look forward to assisting with the local historical information.

Communication

O4.1 Identify the ‘wide range of’ spelling mistake.

T 4.1 Same comment as for 1.1. with the concerns that this should include the investigation of the historic landscape to ensure accurate historic basis, and marketing information to ensure visitor understanding.

O4.2 There needs to be a capital injection for new promotional material based on sound historic information.

T4.2 Include the historic information included in this audit of marketing literature.

O4.3 Marketing material should be specific and accurate particularly in relation to historic material. A reproduction and translation of Hugh Derfel Hughes book on the 'Hynafiathau Llandegai a Llanllechid' would be a good introduction to the Bethesda and Ogwen Valley area.

T 4.3 The marketing strategy should include local information generated by *investigations by local history groups like ours.

T4.4 This target is confused with too many elements, which are not clearly defined. It would be difficult to define a marketing product around this target.

T4.5.  Is ill defined and would be superfluous if a policy f dispersing tourists around the Park.

It is as it stands a duplication of the T4.4 and does not allow a clear identification of the marketing products likely to be involved.

O4.4 This objective is again not clear as to what marketing products are likely to be necessary to ensure its success.

O4.5 No comment.

T 4.6 There seems to be no consideration given to the need for integration of the NE part of the park to the remainder and to Wales as a whole.

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