Plans for Wales first new national park in 60 years rejected
Elgan Hearn, Local democracy reporter
Councillors from across the political divide unanimously rejected a proposal to set up a new national park in north east Wales, which includes a small portion of Powys.
At a Powys County Council meeting on Thursday, December 4, a detailed objection that will be submitted on their behalf by Council Leader Cllr Jake Berriman (Liberal Democrat – Llandrindod North) was put before councillors for a vote.
The consultation on the proposed Glyndŵr National Park, which is being run by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), will finish on Monday, December 8.
In September, modified proposals were published which show that much of the potential park area in Powys has been taken out.
Originally, the plan was for Llanfyllin to be the southern gateway for the park.
But Llanfyllin, along with Meifod, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, and the surrounding area, have been taken out of the proposal.
The new proposal would see the park’s southern boundary on the A458 road at Llangadfan. Lake Vyrnwy would be within the national park as would Llansilin and Llangedwyn to the east of Llanrhaeadr-ym Mochnant.
Cllr Berriman (Llandrindod North) said: “We have discussed this previously. The views of most members here was to object and a previous objection went in at the earlier stage of consultation.”
He added that county planners had come up with a “very comprehensive” response.
Cllr Berriman believed that a Powys objection would “trigger” the need for an enquiry to be held if the Welsh Government intended on persevering with the proposal.
The reasons given for the objection are poor accessibility and disproportionate socio-economic impact.
The potential loss of planning income from the area has been highlighted as a concern. Documents show that last year Powys council made £28,270 from 72 planning applications that came from the area.
Conservative group leader Cllr Aled Davies represents the ward of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llansilin which would partially be within the new national park.
Cllr Davies said: “I want to reinforce the local view.
“There have been a number of meetings over the last two years while this process has taken place, and nobody wanted the national park.
“During the Covid-19 period we had a huge problem in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant with day trippers and single-track roads being clogged up for miles.
“We simply don’t have the infrastructure to deal with significant numbers coming into the area.”
He explained that it was feared that a national park would have a negative impact on the Welsh language, housing availability and stifle economic development and jobs creation.
Cllr Bryn Davies (Plaid Cymru – Banwy, Llanfihgangel and Llanwddyn) said: “Local people don’t see it as being created for them but for other communities. In reality it’s a dead duck.”
He added that Denbighshire council had voted against the proposal and expected that Gwynedd and Flintshire councils would follow suite.
Cllr Davies believed the Welsh Government should: “Give up on the plan.”
The council then went to a vote and all 59 agreed to object to the park.
To have your say visit: https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/north-east-gogledd-ddwyrain/proposed-national-park-statutory-consultation-2025/
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
This should enrich the local economy not impoverish it. That’s why overseas visitors should pay an entry fee instead of enjoying free facilities paid for by locals.
Isn’t that what the tourism tax is for?
The park covers five council areas who may all have competing priorities, have different views on what share of revenues they put in, or may choose not to implement the tourism tax at all. Park entry fees can go to a single park authority to be used just for maintaining and enhancing the park and its visitor experience.
Park entry fees are a total pie in the sky. Our National Parks, unlike the american ones you’re basing this idea on, are nearly completely in private ownership, they have communities within them, many of which are very much reliant on tourism income, and more importantly, each park has hundreds, or likely thousands of entry routes. Are you going to front up the millions it will take to install entry barriers, checkpoints, or an ANPR system on every A, B and C road, as well as every path that enters? Delusional. Not to mention, our National Parks were established post… Read more »
So put up council tax to fund wealthy Americans enjoying it for free? The reality is that the national parks intended for everyone are an elitist activity. Most will never set foot in them because they’ve not come from a background where it was normal to enjoy the great outdoors. A visitor centre selling passes, and offering free group hikes and courses for beginners will improve access for everyone. Enforcement can be spot checks, it doesn’t need to be a prison. Of course the elites enjoying their secret beauty, peace and quiet won’t want the great unwashed to actually enjoy… Read more »
I’m not convinced you understand how National Parks in the Welsh and broader UK context work. I have visited every National Park in Wales and Scotland, and several of those in England. In all that time I don’t think I’ve ever met an American (although I did meet a Canadian in Aviemore and an American couple in the New Forest before it was a National Park). Foreign tourists all pile into London and maybe Oxford, Edinburgh and perhaps might spend a day “doing Wales” . Our National Parks are working, living landscapes, places which have towns and industry. They’re not… Read more »
Public Transport!!!! So rare but so vital! A good, reliable service at a reasonable price could take tourists to all the lovely places they wouldn’t think to go otherwise – Selling hop-on-hop-off tickets around the park and nearby villages would encourage visitors to come into local shops, cafés and businesses and boost the local economy……..as well as providing locals with a decent bus service that they almost certainly haven’t got at the moment! If there’s one thing that Wales does not have a shortage of, it’s natural beauty. Sadly, we don’t seem to want to use it to help the… Read more »
What narrow minded fools. The money from tourism is k credible and the area desperately needs this industry.
Narrow minded decision based on a minority. NRW research has shown public are for this. Shows it’s landowning interests that control things. Time to change councillors who are more worried about losing power. There’s been a huge misinformation campaign about this proposal
100%
Good, National parks just bring in more restrictions to the residents.