| 1. |
RECOMMENDATIONS |
| 1.1 |
Members
note the contents of the report and confirm the Authority's continued commitment to the Initiative. |
| 1.2 |
The
Authority pursues a more positive approach to discussing tourism
initiatives with local
communities and representative groups in the Northern area of the Park |
| 1.3 |
The
Authority requests the Partnership to investigate as a matter of
urgency how the special parking circumstances at Pen y Gwryd and Ogwen
can be satisfied in an environmentally acceptable way. |
| 2. |
SUMMARY |
| 2.1 |
The
Snowdonia Green Key Partnership has now received the Consultant's
recommendations following the independent appraisal of the Initiative
in the light of the public's reaction to the Draft Strategy statement
produced last December. An Executive Summary is appended (Appendix
1).
The recommendations were also considered by the Executive Committee of
the Partnership on May 15th. The Partnership issued a press
release on 30th April (Appendix
2). |
| 2.2 |
The
Consultants recommendations are pragmatic and succinct which will help
direct the Initiative and provide new opportunities for the
Partnership to engage local community and interest groups in a more
open and meaningful manner. The report in particular recognises not
only the importance and individuality of Snowdonia as a tourism
product and a tourist destination but also the significance of outdoor
activity. The report also clearly highlights the fact that
irrespective of any traffic management issues, the tourist industry
remains vulnerable unless it is able to adapt to changing markets.
That being the case there is a need for the Partnership to encourage
and enable tourist providers to respond to changing market
circumstances and to expand and diversify. |
| 2.3 |
Whilst
supporting the continued upgrading, development and enhancement of
public transport, the Consultants consider that changing the existing
patterns of car borne tourism will be extremely difficult and will not
be achieved by adopting radical measures aimed at reducing rather than
increasing an individual's flexibility to travel around the area using
a car. Accommodating the car and minimising its impacts on the area,
needs to be balanced against the potential harm to the tourist
industry and to the image of the area if Snowdonia is perceived by
tourists as a place where cars are not welcome and motorists are
penalised for undertaking outdoor activities or seeking to enjoy the
scenery. |
| 2.4 |
Whilst
also recognising that providing for the car should not continue
unabated and that peak demands cannot and should not be satisfied, the
report indicates that car borne tourism is important to the local
economy but must be provided for in ways which do not compromise the
environmental integrity of the area. |
| 2.5 |
The
coming months therefore represent an important phase in the
development of the Snowdonia Green Key Initiative and the Park
Authority's involvement. Considerable unease still exists as to how
the Initiative will proceed and this Authority must take a positive
lead in reassuring local people that they have an important and
positive role in steering the Initiative, so that it can strengthen
rather than weaken the appeal of the area and the local tourist
economy. Members will be encouraged by the fact that the Environment
Minister at the Assembly remains firmly
committed to the Initiative's aims of encouraging a more
sustainable approach to tourism and public transport in Northern
Snowdonia. (Appendix 3). |
| 3. |
THE
RE-APPRAISAL REPORT |
| 3.1 |
Members
will be aware from previous reports of the public's reaction to the
initial Draft strategy. In the light of these circumstances RPS
Consulting was engaged to reappraise the direction of the Initiative.
Having considered how tourism is likely to develop in Snowdonia and
taking account of the existing suggestions in the Draft Strategy,
their findings not only challenge some of the key assumptions around
which the Initiative has been focused but also provide a number of
important markers as to how tourism in Snowdonia should be developed
in the future. |
| 3.2 |
Of
crucial importance is the fact that irrespective of the differences of
opinion which exist about the extent or impacts of traffic in the
Park, Snowdonia's future tourist industry will depend increasingly on
attracting those who wish to use and enjoy the outdoor and natural
environment. Many of these individuals will come for shorter periods
of time and depend extensively on their own personal transport to
undertake activities in the area. If Snowdonia is to retain its
credibility and appeal as a tourist destination, meeting the needs of
car borne visitors in ways which do not compromise the environment
will be crucial. |
| 3.3 |
The
report recommends this through:
- Improving the
range and quality of tourism products and services and wherever
possible ensuring that these are provided in environmentally
friendly ways.
- Maintaining the
opportunities for access to popular areas of the Park.
- Providing
a wider choice of travel options for those who do not have their
own transport or I who consciously wish to use an alternative to
the car.
Such an approach not
only recognises the important role the car plays as part of the
overall tourism experience of Snowdonia but also the reliance which
many people undertaking outdoor activities have on a car. Access to
and around the area for leisure purposes is predominantly based on car
travel and the report highlights the particular difficulties
associated with an approach which relies primarily on journeys by
public transport or more specifically by Park and Ride services. |
| 4. |
KEY
RECOMMENDATIONS |
| 4.1 |
The
Consultants recognise that many of the proposals encompassed by the
Initiative are commendable and should be pursued as a matter of
urgency through collaborative working between public agencies and
local communities. Their recommendations, however, focus on a number
of key issues which dominated the public debate about the Initiative.
Each of these recommendations is reviewed, followed by an officer's
response. |
| 4.2 |
Park
and Ride |
|
Recommendation |
|
The
Park and Ride concept is not considered to have merit as an
underpinning proposal for the regeneration and further development of
the tourism product of Northern Snowdonia" |
| 4.2.1 |
Whilst
this conclusion is understandable and acknowledged, special shuttle
services which are frequent, efficient and cost effective, do have a
valuable role to play in providing access to popular parts of Northern
Snowdonia. There will always be circumstances, for instance, through
the Llanberis Pass, where the availability of parking will never be
adequate to satisfy the peak visitor demands. In these circumstances,
dedicated shuttle services are justified and should continue to be
provided as an option to car access. Likewise Park and Ride will
become important as the popularity of the Welsh Highland Railway
increases. |
| 4.2.2 |
The
challenge facing the Partnership is to provide a more flexible and
demand responsive public transport service which itself becomes a part
of the overall leisure experience of Snowdonia. Priority must be given
to developing an efficient public transport network of Sherpa services
throughout the year which can be supplemented where required by
efficient and cost effective specialist services to meet the needs of
specific users. Further discussions will need to take place as
suggested in the report to develop innovative possibly even
unconventional locally based shuttle services which provide realistic
and attractive alternatives to the car. |
| 4.3 |
Public
Transport and people movement |
|
Recommendation |
|
The
operational Sherpa
network requires a major injection of investment if it is to provide a
realistic alternative to car travel. |
| 4.3.1 |
This
conclusion is wholeheartedly supported and the Authority should
impress upon the Assembly the need for extra
revenue funding to enable the standards of the existing service to be
improved to meet user expectations. The finances which the two
Authorities and the Park are able to invest in the service will always
be a problem and limit the scope of the Sherpa services offered to the
public. Given the fact that all but one of the services is subsidised,
without further investment it is difficult to see how the type of
services required to provide a realistic alternative to the car can be
financed. |
|
Cycle
ways and a network of low level paths should be developed |
| 4.3.2 |
This
suggestion is already being actively investigated and considerable
progress has already been made as a result of the initial work
undertaken to define a "Leisure routes" network. These ideas
will continue to be developed and discussed with local communities |
|
Retain
the exiting quantum of parking and where necessary provide more
formalised parking in a series of key locations |
| 4.3.3 |
Throughout
the consultation exercise the manner in which parking should be
provided created the greatest controversy. The Consultants view on
this matter differs dramatically from the recommendations of the
initial consultants. It is RPS's view that the existing
"quantum" of parking should be retained and more formalised
car parking provided at a series of key locations namely Pen y Gwryd
and in the Ogwen Valley. In the case of the former this could be
achieved by creating "a new
dedicated overflow facility at Pen y Gwryd to match that existing in
Nant Peris " coupled with an improved shuttle service through
the Pass. In Ogwen clusters of landscaped parking areas are suggested.
Both these suggestions raise major issues. Although both areas are
very popular, highly accessible and heavily used, they are also some
of the most scenically sensitive locations in Snowdonia. |
| 4.3.4 |
Careful
consideration needs to be given as to whether the justification to
construct car parks is sufficiently compelling to outweigh the
potential environmental impacts. If it is accepted that these new car
parks should be provided primarily as overspill parking to meet the
limited peak parking demands, then economically it is difficult to see
how such an expensive project can be justified. The justification
becomes even less defensible when one considers that any such
parking area would have to be sited so carefully and
constructed so sensitively that by implication it would be very
expensive. |
| 4.4 |
Charging
for car parking |
|
Recommendation |
|
Short
stay parking should be free of charge but long stay visits should be
charged |
| 4.4.1 |
The Park
Authority accepts this approach but recognises that consistency is
needed between the different providers. The Authority will continue to
adopt a charging regime which reflects the location of the car park,
the range and the difficulty in providing services and facilities at
the site. As a matter of principle where high fees are levied for car
parking, a proportion of this income will be reinvested in the
management of that site and used to subsidise public transport in the
Snowdon area. |
| 4.5 |
To
implement settlements and village enhancement programmes |
| 4.5.1 |
A number
of the suggestions are acceptable in principle and can readily be
achieved through a change of management practice on the part of the
Park or other Authorities. The acceptability of these and any others
suggestions should be discussed with local communities so as to help
inform the development of tourism opportunities in the respective
settlement. The Project Officer will be focussing in particular on
this area of work. over the next six months. |
| 5. |
THE
NEXT STEPS |
| 5.1 |
Over the
next months a series of meetings will be arranged to discuss the
Re-Appraisal Report and the SGKI Partnership response. Where
necessary, RPS will be asked to develop any agreed proposals as the
basis of a future funding package. |
| 6. |
CONCLUSIONS |
| 6.1 |
In the
light of the Consultants recommendations it is clear that the
direction, emphasis and means by which the Initiative is implemented
must change. Further and careful consideration must be given as to how
their recommendations are taken forward and furthermore as to how this
can be achieved with the full involvement of all relevant
stakeholders. The Park Authority needs to remain committed to the
Green Key Initiative. The development of a network of public transport
services which provide for the needs of local people and visitors
throughout the year. Especially where these services can provide an
attractive alternative to car travel. |
| 6.2 |
Fulfilling
these aims, however, has significant resource implications. The
Partnership therefore needs to press the Welsh Assembly Government to
make special funding available for the development of new and
innovative travel opportunities to and within the Snowdonia National
Park and for the co-ordination of tourism investment in the area. |
|
|