Observation 9: Manager of Joe Brown's Mountaineering Shop, Llanberis

It is unfortunate that the report appears to have lost sight of what I consider the most important factor in encouraging local tourism and through that bring increased prosperity to the area - that is to WELCOME tourists. Instead initiatives and reports become bogged down with dubious statistics about job creation (how do you arrive at such a precise figure as (Section 5.4) "between 63 and 65 new jobs", on what basis is the increase in traffic levels estimated at 15-20% in twenty years?) and maximising "expenditure per individual" and rather than concentrating upon improving the visitors experience while they are here. In my view all efforts should be directed towards providing facilities and opportunities that the visitor wants, and in making them feel welcome in the area. This requires commitment (and often expenditure) at all levels, from the individual guest-house owner and shop keeper through to the lead provided by the County Councils, Wales Tourist Board and National Park. If the visitor feels welcomed they will return, and bring their friends, and they will stay for longer. Consequently revenues and employment opportunities from tourism will rise. The onus lies upon us to provide the facilities that the tourist wants. If they want to use their car (and all experience suggests that most do) then this should be made as easy as possible.

For many coming to Snowdonia from an urban or suburban environment part of the attraction of a rural holiday is the flexibility it brings. They do not want to be channelled into a few large car parks on the periphery of the area and then be constrained by bus routes and bus times and problematic connections. These are the realities that many people have to endure on a daily basis, and are what they come on holiday to escape. I strongly believe that visitors want the freedom to go where the inclination takes them at a time that suits them without having to plan their day by the clock.

I also consider the whole plan to be based on a false premise - a non-existent problem. Under pinning the whole scheme is the assumption that traffic levels within the core area of Northern Snowdonia are or will be unacceptably high, and must be reduced both to relieve congestion and for environmental considerations. I simply do not think that any problem exists, nor would exist even if traffic levels were to increase by the 15 - 20% over 20 years that the statement conjectures.

Some statements (2.8 This situation is neither environmentally nor economically sustainable) are nonsense. What does this mean? Of course the region will continue to exist whether the strategy is implemented or not! In environmental terms Snowdonia has suffered far less from pollution than most areas. Average incomes are indeed lower, but this is in part a reflection of low farming incomes, a factor not addressed at all by the Green Key strategy. Indeed, the preservation of the landscape does get an occasional oblique reference. But, in my view this is an absolutely crucial and central factor. Yet no consideration is given to the owners of this heritage and ways in which farm incomes might be increased. The extension of Tir Gofal type schemes I think is the way forward. Agreements should of course permit public access, after all if we are paying for it we want to use it! The Right to Roam legislation may force this upon some farmers, but progress through co-operation would be a better approach. Any such scheme should encourage agricultural practices and stocking rates which maintain the (albeit artificial) landscape of the type which the public has determined that they want in Snowdonia In short farmers should be subsidised to maintain their holdings in the state of a semi-wild park.

I consider the assumptions in section 2.5 of the strategy to be flawed. Let me examine them one at a time.

Firstly, I find that there is rarely congestion on these roads. Throughout most of the year on a typical journey between my shop in Llanberis and the one in Capel Curig I see few cars. If I am held up it is most likely to be behind a slow commercial or agricultural vehicle climbing the Llanberis Pass. As there is no intention to restrict through traffic the scheme would not alter matters in this respect. During two or three months in the summer and for occasional holiday weeks at other times there may be short lived congestion in a few areas, but this is not as bad as that encountered at peak times on the bridges between Anglesey and Gwynedd on a daily basis. But in this instance Iuean Wyn Jones A.M. suggestions for improving traffic flow have been dismissed out of hand by the Assembly Minister. If I do get slowed by holiday traffic I am able to take a relaxed attitude about it. I live in this area all year round because I have chosen to. I am glad that other people find it beautiful, and are keen to visit it, but pity them that for 50 weeks of the year they live in an urban environment. Let them enjoy it, even if this does mean that they drive at forty miles an hour on a road where I would normally do fifty! My journey may take ten minutes longer, but if that is the price I pay for the opportunity to live here then so be it, it is but a small price. The situation might be ameliorated if there were short stop lay-bys were provided so that visitors had the opportunity to stop and stare (and perhaps take photographs) at numerous points along the roads.

Section 2.5 also refers to the "increased environmental damage through pollution, noise and visual blight". The first is easily dismissed. The environmental pollution produced by a five mile journey between Llanberis and Pen-y-Pass is negligible compared with that which the 400 mile round trip that a visitor may have made in travelling to the area from the Birmingham, or London. The true environmentally sound answer is that all tourism should be discouraged as it inevitably involves the unnecessary use of energy and contributes to global warming whether using private or public transport. To promote the Green Key Strategy as a "green" scheme is therefore a fallacy. Indeed, I would suggest that a YES answer to questions l(b) and l(d) in the response form could be interpreted as a NO to tourism!

The noise pollution issue is also of negligible proportions. In the first place there is no intention to restrict through traffic, and secondly once one is more that two or three hundred yards from a road there is insignificant noise from vehicles. Of far more concern in this matter is the deafening noise from low flying jets training in the Ogwen valley, and the intrusive noise of helicopters in otherwise wild cwms throughout the park.

Visual blight is difficult to define. Yes the roads may be visible from some of the summits' but is this a "visual blight'? I would suggest not. Wales (and arguably Britain) has no true wilderness areas. The landscape on Snowdonia is an artificial one produced by farming practices. The presence of outlying farms, old mine workings and roads are all part of the history of this landscape. Indeed, to remove the roads would be a abrogation of this history and culture. It is well known from surveys in National Parks that many visitors do not stray far from their cars. Of those who do the vast majority stay on recognised and established paths. While this is partly that such trails provide easy routes to popular objectives I know from having talked to many people in the course of business that less experienced walkers often like the reassurance of man made features in what is to them an alien environment. The idea that there is a road within sight provides reassurance that they are within reach of civilization rather than being seen as an eyesore. In any event the proposals to remove (block?) lay-bys and ban linear roadside parking in, for instance, Ogwen will have little affect upon the landscape as the roads themselves, and the traffic upon them will still be there. From any distance the effect will be imperceptibly different.

I take the term "fly parking" to mean parking in places other than officially sanctioned parking areas. Unless parking obstructs traffic flow I do not see a problem. Parking where it does impede traffic can be dealt with by present regulations. I would suggest that if particular areas are prone to this (the top of the Llanberis Pass and Ogwen Cottage spring to mind) then this should be taken as an indication that there is insufficient parking space currently available, and serious consideration should be given to creating more. Indeed, my view is that far from reducing parking it should be increased to cope with the demand.

People are very attached to the use of their cars. There are many reasons for this, some are psychological, but most are practical (I will address these later). You are clearly aware that people will not willingly give up their cars, and that the only way to impose the Green Key travel strategy will be through prohibition of parking. I believe that through the imposition of such a strategy you will actually drive people away from Snowdonia - people living in the Liverpool - Manchester - Birmingham areas can equally easily choose to visit the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales, and if prevented from using their cars in Snowdonia will indeed "vote with their wheels" to the benefit of these areas and the detriment of Snowdonia.

Talk about creating new jobs and increased visitor spending may well be more than cancelled out if just one visitor in twenty (5%) chooses to go elsewhere. Instead, in line with my comments about WELCOMING visitors and providing them with what they want I would significantly increase parking. Most car parks are not intrusive. Pen-y-Pass is well hidden when approached from either the Nant Peris or the Pen-y-Gwryd side, and is soon hidden when ascending either the Miner's or the Pyg track.

The car park at Snowdon Ranger is hidden by trees - the Youth Hostel opposite is far more intrusive when looking down from the hill. At Rhyd Ddu the car part is within or contiguious to the village boundary, while that car park at Nant-Gwynant is hidden very quickly once one moves away from it. At Ogwen parking uses old mine tips, and is between pre-existing buildings - indeed, none of these car parks intrudes into the landscape. The two that I am most aware are inadequate are Pen-y-Pass and Ogwen. Double both these in size. Provide small car parks at other locations such as the Pen-y-Gwryd and extend lay-bys to provide linear parking by Llyn Dinas and Llyn Gwynant. Where appropriate plant quick growing trees such as silver birch or alder to screen them. In the Llanberis Pass widen the road to provide a series of lay-bys.

I would support objective 3.2.4 (cycle routes) and be wholly in favour of a cycle and/or MTB track and footpath from Nant Peris to Pen-y-Pass. Here alternate lay-bys could be for short term (1 or 2 hour say) parking while others should cater for long stay walkers. While walkers clearly need long term parking facilities older retired people often only want to sit and admire the view for an hour while they have a cup of tea, others only want to take photographs before moving on, and people with young families may just want to picnic by a stream. To encourage people to move on, all parking should be free. Once people pay they are more reluctant to move one, particularly if they know that they will have to pay afresh if they stop elsewhere. The cost of establishing parking facilities could be spread over several years and funded by reduced subsidies to bus services.

Let me now consider the use that climbers, walkers and fell-runners make of the hills, and how the proposals to curtail parking would impact upon such users. I and many of my friends use the hills in summer for recreation after work. This may take the form of climbing or walking. My own shop closes at 6.00pm during the summer season. Providing one is quick this just leaves time to do a climb in the Llanberis Pass, to run round the Snowdon Horseshoe or go over to Ogwen to climb or scramble. But this relies on immediately available transport directly to ones destination. Half an hour wasted getting to the gateway location and waiting for buses together with the inevitably added time that a bus takes to make the same journey as a car is going to make a major difference to what can be done in an evening. As it is one may descend to the car in dwindling light. Are buses still going to be running then? Certainly getting to Ogwen would not be possible with the intended bus service.

Conversely in winter climbers often set off very early - the so called mountaineers "alpine start". This is not just because of short days, but because conditions are both better and safer early in the morning before sun and warmth soften the snow which makes progress harder and increases the risk of avalanches (Yes, avalanches do happen in North Wales, and experienced climbers will take steps to minimise the risks). Many experienced climbers also prefer to be first on a route as following parties are liable to suffer from ice fall from parties above. For this reason it is not unusual for people to set off at 5.30 or 6.00a.m in order to be at the bottom of the route by eight or nine o'clock. What chance is there of getting a bus at these hours?

Climbers, especially in the evenings, need flexibility if they are to complete a route. If another party is already on their intended route there is no time to queue for pitches. A quick decision is made to go elsewhere. Often it is evident from the roadside that the proposed route or crag is wet, again a snap decision is made to go elsewhere. This is no problem with a car, but futile if you have just descended from a bus with another one not along for half an hour. What about climbing equipment? Climbers may well only decide upon what they will wear (in summer evenings one side of the Pass is in sun, the other in shade), and what rope they will take (single 11mm or two 9mm. ropes for example) when they have settled on their route - not a problem if all the gear is in the car boot, but not helpful if it all has to be carried on a bus. What do you then do with surplus equipment? Stashing £100 ropes behind a rock beside the road is not a safe option, but carrying an extra rope to the climb is not an attractive option. For the runner the problems are worse. One wants to run unencumbered by a rucksac, but equally when finished one needs a drink, a towel and fresh dry clothing available immediately - as it gets dark the temperature can drop quickly and in a breeze a sweating runner very soon starts to chill.

Turning now to some problems associated with other outdoor pursuits.

(Reference 02.6) I am not a mountain biker, but I can foresee problems for a group transporting their bikes. How many will a bus take? Perhaps two or three. A group of three riders might have considerable problems particularly if they were not at the start of the bus route, since even one bike already aboard would rule out all three travelling together.

(02.6) Canoeists wishing to canoe the Aberglaslyn Pass would be unable to get their canoes on the bus, so what would they do if the lay-bys at the roadside were closed.

What do the groups who are doing the "Three Peaks" in 24 hours do if they arrive in the middle of the night? If they have a separate driver (and a mobile phone to summon them) they could be dropped off, but what if the driver is also taking part in the walk - or if someone chooses to do the whole thing solo, as I have done?

What do large school or college field trips who travel around in coaches do? They might need three buses to move them from a gateway car-park, and that is assuming that there were no other passengers waiting!

How about groups from outdoor activity centres? Do they have to use buses to get to and from walks or climbs? How does the instructor cope if there is not enough space on the bus to take the whole group?

Experienced walkers should be well prepared, but what of the many poorly equipped families who venture on the hills? If the weather has changed (and the weather in Snowdonia is certainly very changeable!) they may get down from Snowdon to, say, the bottom of the Watkin path, cold and wet. There is no where to warm up or shelter. How long will it take to get back to Betws-y-Coed via an interchange at Pen-y-Pass? Or will they be dropped off to wait in the open at Pen-y-Gwryd? Building a bus shelter there would indeed be intrusive - the saga of the filling station (eventually bought by Chris Brasher and literally given to the Snowdonia Society so that they could demolish it) illustrates the strength of feeling about buildings at this location. (I note that it is not an interchange mentioned under 02.8) Particularly for children waiting around in poor weather and dressed in cold, wet clothes can give a very real chance of them suffering hypothermia.

If lay-bys were to be removed from the Llanberis Pass in the event of a climbing accident on the cliffs (a not infrequent occurrence) rescuers and emergency vehicles would have to park on the road, with the inevitable consequences in terms of congestion and reduced safety.

These are just some of the situations that I can see arising if the scheme were to go ahead.

Let me now consider the implications on business. Joe Brown's have two shops, in Llanberis and Capel Curig. These locations neatly illustrate two different dilemmas.

Llanberis is proposed as an inner gateway. If this is to provide easy interchange and large scale car parking I cannot envisage a suitable site within the existing village. I presume that the unused Glynrhonwy site is the favoured location. But this is ten to fifteen minutes walk from the existing village businesses. Not many people are going to bother to walk or drive into the village to browse. Most will, I think, head straight to the car park and then directly onto the bus. The village itself I believe will lose trade. It is noteworthy how at present the Snowdon Mountain Railway terminus can be busy, yet very few of those people penetrate to the middle of Llanberis High Street - as estate agents say, the three most important factors are location, location and location! Park people out of the village and most will go no further.

The situation in the non-gateway villages such as Capel Curig and Beddgelert will be worse - Having waited for a bus at a gateway car-park people (and particularly families) will be every reluctant to disembark before they get to their destination (and Capel Curig is very much a place that people tend to pass through on their way to Ogwen or Snowdon, rather than a destination in its own right) as even stopping to buy a small item will then involve them in waiting for the next bus. This also raises the question are tickets available for all journeys throughout the day, or will they have to pay again when catching the next bus?

Turning finally to consider the proposed bus service.

I am cynical about this. While a good bus service is promised in the initial plans I cannot see this being maintained because of the level of subsidy involved. A few buses would be full, at peak times on weekends and during August, but most of the year buses would run empty or with only one or two passengers. In these instances, a car would produce less pollution than a bus with one passenger making the same journey. After a year or two I believe that to save money the service would be cut. During the weeks buses might be reduced to hourly outside the main holiday periods. Then the earliest and latest buses would be cut. This would mean long waits for anyone who just missed a bus, and make many evening activities impossible. It would also reduce the supposed economic benefits through increased employment for bus drivers.

The trialed scheme during the Foot and Mouth epidemic did not work well. There were too many instances of buses not coming at all, or not running to timetable. The absence of service when local companies had to withdraw their buses to provide school services coincided with the period that people typically come down from the hills. How much more satisfactory to come back to a car you can rely on than be at the whim of a bus company. Even talk of (02.10) "interactive technology" and "real time passenger information" does not seduce me (how long is something like that going to survive on Llanberis High Street?) - a 60 minute wait is still a 60 minute wait, - it is not as if there is any alternative. All that this might do is mean that people don't come back to Snowdonia in the future.

Although I have no objection to an improved bus service my own activities would be poorly served and I would still need to use a car. Flexibility YES, Freedom to choose YES' but being forced to conform to the limitations of this scheme NO. Do not try to make visitors fit the scheme, make the scheme fit the visitors. Give them what they want. Make their visits a pleasure and they will return.

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