Cemmaes, Powys: Perfectly agree with your statement - implementation of the Green Key Strategy would have devastating effects for Snowdonia. I am a frequent visitor to the area precisely because it is easily accessible and would hardly ever turn up again if my movements there should be restricted through having to use public transport. I sincerely hope that the Green Key Strategy will be scrapped for the sake of the local economy and all that love and enjoy the hills. The whole scheme sounds like something concocted by some couch bureaucrats to were forced to come up with some new project in order to keep themselves in their jobs - certainly screams of blockheadedness

Yatton, N.Somerset: I have been taking Venture Scouts into Snowdonia for the last 25 years. I also enjoy those early morning strolls or evenings on the ridges. There's nothing like watching the Sunrise from any of the tops. I agree with the comments that this is only another way of gathering revenue and has nothing to do with conserving the countryside, like most government ecology policy. I do agree with the rebuilding of the Welsh Highland, this can be used as an alternative to coaches. But I am also a railway enthusiast. I passionately support freedom in the hills with due respect to those who depend on them for their livelihood. This policy is the thin edge of the wedge, One of my Uncles died at Arnham to give us freedom and democracy, lets not let it be destroyed by a LABOUR government. Does anybody remember the mass trespasses on the Pennines!

Llanrwst: We are all trying to make a living in North Wales and rely heavily on people coming into the area for recreational activities. If the 'park and ride scheme' comes into force it will take away the freedom of choice for EVERYONE to 
(a) come here in the first place or 
(b) whether or not to stay and in doing so help the economy by spending/working here.

Bangor: We (husband and friends) walk in northern Snowdonia every week, sometimes several times a week. We would be unable to do this if the proposed scheme was implemented since we do not wish to be limited to the routes that would be served by the buses. Also there is the question of time. On summer evenings we go for evenings walks, often starting at 6pm, and not coming off the hill until 10pm., then having a drink and supper (the Cwellyn Arms, Rhydd Ddu serves supper until 10.30pm!)The scheme would not enable this sort of use. I consider that it would infringe my rights to use this amenity owned by the nation, for the nation. surely the Park Authority and local councils do not have a mandate to prevent safe use of the Park by this thoughtless and highhanded scheme that will certainly damage the local tourist industry and deal it a mortal blow from which it would not recover. people will go to Cumbria or the Peak District where they are not made to feel unwanted.

Heath, Cardiff: Excellent Web Site I was horrified when I recently heard about this plan. I believe that it will seriously reduce the visitor numbers who will come to Snowdonia. This is because people will go to a part of the country where they feel welcome and can travel conveniently. As a climber I need to get to out of the way places at times which are convenient to me. I do not want to feel that my activities are being regulated by an outside force. I think that it is the local people who will suffer because money will not flow into the community in the form of visitors paying for accommodation, food, beer, equipment etc Good Luck

Oswestry: The idea is stupid,,,,,,,it is not going to happen, keep the mountains free.

Chobham, Surrey: I think a Park and Ride scheme might work for day visitors but what is proposed sounds a nightmare to try to use if you are already staying in the middle of the park, e.g. Capel Curig. A far less grandiose scheme ought to be introduced to prove the principle that using public transport could work well before trying to ban parking for mountain activities- which is what in effect the scheme proposes. There are some staggering omissions even from the overblown proposal as it exists- such as Cwm Nantlle and public transport to Snowdonia. Here's a detailed response based on the "alternative form" Comments on Snowdonia Green Key Initiative I visit Snowdonia usually 2 or 3 times a year. About every 1 to 2 years I stay for a week with my brother and parents, often in Beddgelert, a favourite spot. Other times are for a few days, often a weekend travelling up from Surrey after work- leaving at about 1700hrs on Friday night. I have no doubt that tourism benefits the local community. The old extraction and mining industries that used to employ many people have largely gone, and tourism must have replaced many of those jobs. The seasonal nature of tourism must be a problem, but be to some extent ameliorated by weekend visits throughout the year. It is often very difficult to get accommodation at weekends, even in the middle of winter- especially at places such as Beddgelert and Capel Curig inside the Gateway towns/villages, and it would seem important not to prejudice this out-of-season income for these places. Schemes to encourage, or extend out-of-season visits would therefore seem to bring the greatest further benefits, though it seems the Green Key Initiative is mainly tackling traffic problems in the main season. New parking schemes in towns may not be much help. Speaking for myself, it would be disconcerting and discouraging to visit if I had to drive to a large car park in Bethesda or Llanberis if I was staying in central Snowdonia anyway. I would use car parks further out if I were a day visitor but feel that adding to parking overall around Snowdonia could create an expensive “White Elephant”, creating facilities- and possibly congestion- in areas that people don’t really want to visit. If the Green Key Initiative were to be implemented as it stands I would be very wary about staying with my parents and brother on those one-week visits as my father is not mobile. We try to choose small, quiet car parks to drive him to (like Nantmor) where he can enjoy the experience of being in the country while we go for a walk. Having read the documents, it is very hard to see how the initiative would help small villages in the heart of the National Park. It seems cruel, and arbitrary to seek to shift the benefits of tourism to the outside of the National Park. People have invested in property and businesses that are a pleasure to support, on the basis of reasonable access to the centre of the park. People live here, but it seems Snowdonia is to be being treated like a wilderness area in the sense that National Parks in the US are. It seems ridiculous to close off all roadside and layby parking where it isn’t a problem for access or safety. Restrictions to time could be very inappropriate, as flexibility is needed when mountain activities. However, properly focussed restrictions, say where overuse is a problem, could be sensible. Thus it might be appropriate to limit parking at Pen y Pass (say to YHA users and staff, disabled) but leave the situation in the Ogwen Valley as it is as there isn’t a big problem. Remember, flexibility and access are important in planning mountain activities- and may be vital for safety. Could the Green Key Scheme deal with those days when we drive up from Betws y Coed ( a good place to stay for winter weekends, but you can’t see the mountains) not sure whether to go on the 3000 ft plus mountains, and finding them in cloud and rain, settle for Cnicht or the lakes N of Capel Curig instead?. Car access- and the places to park- is a huge benefit in these circumstances. If restrictions on car use are needed they should be focussed, restricted to the summer school holidays, and as simple as possible. There don’t seem to me to be many problems of congestion, and where they exist should be dealt with just where there is a problem. A simple solution might be to allow people who live, or stay (and thus) in central Snowdonia to park and drive much as they do now. Parking permits could be issued to visitors on booking or arriving at accommodation-this works well (admittedly on a local scale) in Hawkshead in the Lake District where unrestricted car use had become impossible. Day visitors at busy times would face the parking restrictions but be directed to Park and Ride Schemes. In effect, this would ration car parking to the people who contribute most to the economy. The enhanced public transport from the Park and Ride scheme would then be of benefit to those of us who stay and live in Snowdonia and might ultimately encourage the greater use of (even the “modal shift” to- whatever that bit of planning jargon in a supposed consultaton document!) public transport the initiative seeks to promote. In short, a less grandiose scheme should be introduced. Inherently, it would appeal less to the bureaucratic mind that worked out the proposed scheme but it would: 

• Improve public transport in the Snowdonia Park to give a choice between using the car and transport 
• Provide good enough public transport to allow good access to people who travel into Snowdonia by public transport (shamefully, the report hardly addresses this possibility- access from the SE by public transport is effectively impossible if you have to start after work) 
• Integrate the Welsh Highland Railway into a scheme to ameliorate congestion in Beddgelert caused by day visitors. 
• Encourage me to visit (the existing proposals would slightly discourage me) 
• Enhance the sense of freedom for outdoors use by giving the choice of devising point-to-point routes and leaving the car behind Finally, here’s an opportunity incredibly missed that would link an incredibly economically depressed valley into the park- and facilitate a popular point-to-point work: 
• Extend selected journeys on the bus service to Nantlle through to Rhyd-ddu (possibly through to Beddgelert)

Timperley, Cheshire: It's hard to imagine who, exactly, would visit this glorious area if these ludicrous proposals are implemented. As a regular visitor, although never during bank holidays, not once have I encountered traffic problems, other than road works, and in fact it's a real delight to drive on Snowdonia's wonderful roads. The effect on local businesses and livelihoods will be catastrophic, and could well seriously damage what I always considered to be a fantastic future for Wales and the Welsh people. Even if a move like this is repealed when it has been seen to be a dreadful decision the damage will already be done and will take a long time to reverse. One hopes that the policy makers names are well known to the Welsh people. I, like most others would not visit Snowdonia again.

Gwalchmai, Anglesey: Fully support campaign.

Corwen: Excellent work! I found about the 'consultation' too late - is there a petition being organised? Thousands of names signing against this idiotic scheme would surely further the cause.

Towcester: Thankyou for a very informative website (comments so extensive that it is very difficult to find time to read them all. I shall write to support your criticism of this proposal

Rothwell, Leeds: It would be impossible to time a walk to exactly meet a bus timetable & what happens when the buses cease, will a taxi service be provided at the same price as the bus fare, I doubt it. Buses are for people who just want to potter around from one cafe or view point to another, not for serious walkers & climbers

Caterham, Surrey: I totally disagree with any enforced park and ride and any reduction in car parking. I have been visiting and walking in Snowdonia National Park for 35years now and traffic and parking is less of an issue now than in the 1960s. Snowdonia has a unique and wonderfully free atmosphere which MUST NOT be ruined. It is very special indeed. There is simply NO PROBLEM ! The only problem which is obvious is footpath erosion, which is being satisfactorily addressed with the program of path improvement, so should be less in the future. I totally agree with the Freedom to Choose objectives and will do all I can to help.

Caterton, Oxon: An absolutely ludicrous idea, it will have a detrimental effect not only upon the local small businesses such as cafes, accommodation, and retail outlets, but will also discourage many groups of walkers from going to Snowdonia. It will inhibit peoples ability to explore the region freely. No longer will people who love and respect the outdoors be able to just get out there quickly exactly to the place where they wish to explore, leave their vehicle behind and get straight onto the hill, then to return to the car and have all your warm dry kit to get changed into and go off to a local cafe. It is all about convenience and freedom. In this day and age when the population is less fit and less appreciative of what the countryside has to offer we should be promoting the national parks, not locking the doors. They are our national parks and the vast majority of users respect them and want them preserved, but what is the point of preservation if less and less people see them and local businesses which are away from allocated park n ride bus routes can no longer survive. Also this scheme would discriminate against people with disabilities as they would no longer have the freedom to view Snowdonia from the comfort of their own vehicle. My mother-in-law has mobility problems and enjoys driving into the park and sitting in her car enjoying the views. It would not be satisfactory to do the same in a park and ride bus. I had a cracking weekend in Snowdonia only a fortnight ago, but what the five of us enjoyed would have been far more difficult to achieve on buses.

Leicester: Stop the park and ride scheme - it will ruin access to the outdoors in Snowdonia. I visit regularly and a park and ride only scheme would mean that I could realistically no longer visit for my walks, scrambles and rock climbing....which also means I no longer spend HUGE amounts of money there as I do at present while I am in the area! Please stop this ridiculous idea!

Uttoxeter, Staffs: National Parks need to be able to be accessed by the general public in a sensible manner. The bus proposals are not sensible. We shall, if these nonsensical proposals come to pass vote with our feet -  literally. The Snowdonia area will suffer a dramatic economic downturn. Visitors will not come except to see the fringes of this truly beautiful part of the country.

Repton, Derby: We own a cottage near Bethesda which is regularly used by our family. All supplies are purchased locally, in fact for some things like mountaineering equipment we would deliberately wait to purchase until we visited the area because at the moment it is more convenient. We have considered enlarging the cottage and retiring there. I have also brought school parties to the area in the past. The compulsory park and ride scheme could never provide the convenience and safety of ones own transport for mountaineering and kayaking. Were it to be introduced then it is more than likely we would sell up, retire somewhere else and probably not even visit again. A loss not a gain to the local economy.

Kibworth, Leicester: I was very surprised by these proposals, which are clearly very ill conceived. They will cost the Welsh economy dear as all but the most hardened walkers will stay away. Imagine the logistics of having to lug two young kids and the days food/drink and waterproofs around on a bus!! A very bad move indeed for local business and tourists alike.

Esher, Surrey: Thank you for forming this group. The Park and Ride scheme is an impractical barrier to walking in Snowdonia. Most walkers carry a variety of walking gear some of which gets left in the car depending on the weather. To carry all of this on a bus is impractical. In addition there is rarely public transport to the point you wish to start and even if this were addressed the timing is such that I doubt there would adequate transport when needed at the beginning and end of the day. Hanging around for a bus at the end of a tiring day is not my idea of fun. If I could not visit the area by car I would not come.

Watford, Herts: As a keen climber who belongs to 2 Mountaineering clubs (one of which, the Midland Association of Mountaineers, has a hut in the Ogwen valley), the proposed restrictions on vehicles would drastically reduce the number of visits which I (and most of my climbing friends) make to Snowdonia.

Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire: A regimented 'Park & Ride' Scheme is completely incompatible with many outdoor activities. I believe it would make certain areas even more heavily over-used, and would discourage people from coming to the park altogether for activities such as Hang Gliding and Canoeing.

Wrexham: I've never heard such a crazy idea in all my life.. (pathetic) I am a seasoned walker summer/Winter since i was a young lad and take my family regularly to Snowdonia which they love and do not want to be restricted to pick up drop off points etc etc. (imagine the mayhem trying to do the welsh 3000's) The person who thought of this idea is obviously not a lover of hill walking and outdoors. They should stick to applying their idea's to city's. If this goes through it will be a monumental mistake for Snowdonia and it's walkers and climbers. If it does get passed then we should take the objection to another level and take further action to get it reversed. I would like to be part of the committee if you need members. 

Codsall, Wolverhampton: I feel very strongly that to deny access to Snowdonia would be disastrous for the area. Snowdonia is for every one to enjoy. We should have the freedom to choose where we go. It would also cause severe parking problems in areas like Porthmadog, keeping the tourists away from the towns. Please don't let it happen.

Edenbridge, Kent: Such a scheme would encourage me to visit the lake district instead of Snowdonia

Eynsford, Kent: I strongly object to these proposals, and hope that I am not too late to have my views included.

 Next Observation

Back