Cones laid on sides of roads in Snowdonia to avoid parking chaos over Easter weekend

Cones have been laid on roads in Snowdonia to avoid parking chaos over the Easter weekend.

Traffic chiefs have said that they do not want a repeat of the scenes last year and thousands descended on the mountains as the ‘stay at home’ order was eased.

Traffic Wales said: “We’ve been busy today placing cones along the A5 Ogwen ahead of Easter weekend. Please park, responsibly, safely & be considerate of others.”

The ‘stay local’ rule in Wale was lifted last weekend meaning that people within the country can now travel where they want. Crossing the border from England for non-essential reasons is however barred until 12 April.

There were calls last year for a clampdown on campervans and motorhomes “parking where they like” in parts of rural Gwynedd and a need for bigger fines for motorists dangerously blocking highways near beauty spots.

Scenes showing hundreds of cars partially blocking some of the region’s highways made headlines over the spring and summer as visitors flocked to Gwynedd beauty spots, with 180 fixed penalty notices issued in just one day at Pen-y-Pass.

‘Restricted’

Yesterday Traffic Wales said: “We recognise that people want to return to enjoy the outdoors but please remember to be considerate of others.

“Irresponsible parking endangers yourself, pedestrians and other motorists. Please be respectful and act responsibly.”

In a Gwynedd Council meeting in December, councillors investigated the toll that parking and visitors were having on communities in the area.

“We have seen up to 15 of these vehicles on some nights parking in the most remote areas which have no suitable facilities whatsoever,” Cllr Simon Glyn of Tudweiliog told the local democracy reporting service.

“There’s evidence, not just this year, of human waste being left and I would propose that such parking should be restricted anywhere which does not possess such facilities.

“We have hundreds of campsites in Gwynedd which are designed for them, there is no need for them to park in such places overnight.”