A clampdown on inconsiderate parking is set to commence at four congested tourist destinations in Gwynedd. The move follows worries visitors are obstructing local traffic or treating verges as makeshift campsites.
Cyngor Gwynedd has issued a total of 20 traffic regulation orders (TRO) focusing on the four locations. An additional two have been published for a fifth site where on-street parking has been obstructing local buses.
The orders will provide enforcement officers with enhanced powers to issue penalties. They take effect on Monday, July 27. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.
Locations include Y Glyn ‘Lagoons’ in Llanberis where the approach road is frequently packed with overnight campervans. Another is a bus turning circle on the northern side of Dinorwig quarry that’s regularly used as a campsite, reports NorthWalesLive.
Measures have also been introduced to prevent congestion in Abergwyngregryn as visitors descend upon the scenic waterfall at Aber Falls. Additional orders are intended to restrict unauthorised parking in Nant Gwynant near the trailhead for Yr Wyddfa’s Watkin Path.
The latter follows Eryri National Park’s decision to abandon a recently-implemented prohibition on overnight parking at its Pont Bethania car park in Nant Gwynant. It was among 11 national park facilities with 10pm-3am restrictions but the scheme encountered fierce opposition from both residents and visitors.
Double yellow lines are now being installed on the A498 as an alternative. Parking restrictions are also set to be introduced on two streets in Trawsfynydd.
Navigating through the village has become increasingly difficult for Lloyds Coaches, which had previously cautioned that it may need to divert its bus routes should obstructive parking continue.
The new measures will initially be trialled for a period of up to 18 months after which Cyngor Gwynedd will assess whether they should be made permanent.
The council stated: “The restrictions will be placed on an experimental basis to begin with in order to measure their effectiveness and to decide what effect these have on the nearby area.
“Should the experiment be successful then the authority intents to consider making a permanent order having the same effect.”
Certain stretches of road at the five designated locations will face outright parking bans while others are specifically aimed at curbing overnight parking at well-known problem areas.
Some exemptions will be allowed including the unloading of goods and dropping off passengers. In particular situations vehicles belonging to disabled drivers may be permitted to park on otherwise restricted road sections.
In Llanberis and Nant Gwynant three existing orders have been revoked in order to refine the current parking arrangements.
Abergwyngregyn
Round-the-clock parking bans will be enforced on road sections near Aber Falls Hotel along with the bus stop turning area situated in front of the hotel.
During peak periods parked vehicles and heavy traffic volumes can prevent buses from completing their turns.
Dinorwig bus terminal
Parking will be entirely prohibited on the site’s bus turning circle which is frequently utilised by day-trippers as a car park and by campervans for overnight stays.
Restrictions will additionally affect short stretches of a narrow lane approaching the now-shuttered Blue and White Peris Mountain Centre.
Llanberis
A comprehensive set of TROs will introduce round-the-clock parking prohibitions on portions of the access road to Y Glyn industrial estate and the lagoons car parks.
A comparable order will be implemented on a road section within the industrial estate itself preventing its use for unofficial overflow parking.
Nevertheless certain sections will continue to permit 90-minute parking during daytime hours with prohibitions enforced only between 11pm and 8am.
Nant Gwynant
Three separate TROs will come into force on the A498 in the Pont Bethania vicinity.
One will introduce 24-hour parking prohibitions on the A498 directly in front of, and on either side of, Bethania Terrace. An access road south of the terrace will be accessible solely to residents holding permits or to others for a maximum duration of 90 minutes.
Additionally 24-hour A498 parking bans will additionally apply from Caffi Gwynant to the national park’s Point Bethania car park. These restrictions subsequently extend northwards past the entrance to Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre.
Trawsfynydd
Parking will be prohibited along a 41m stretch on one side of Pen y Garreg south of its junction with Maengwyn heading towards Eglwys Moriah. Double yellow lines are already present north of the junction.
An additional 33m along one side of Fronwnion will also be covered by a “no waiting at any time” restriction to the south east of its junction with Cefn Gwyn.
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