Public meeting says 4th Welsh national park is 'not welcome'

The meeting, attended by more than 200 people on Friday, November 1, in Llanrhaeadr Village Hall, was organised to discuss the possibility of a new national park that would cover the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The proposed national park would incorporate Lake Vyrnwy and the Tanat Valley, as well as towns like Llanfyllin and Meifod, and would be Wales’ fourth national park – after the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Pembrokeshire Coast.

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The meeting was organised as part of the ongoing consultation over the proposed park, which has been developed by Natural Resources Wales, who were tasked by the Welsh Government with assessing the evidence and case for what could be the first new national park in Wales for decades.

“The overwhelming message from the 250 people that attended the meeting was clear,” said Russell George, Member of the Senedd for Montgomeryshire.  

“The proposals to create a fourth national park in Wales, to include a large area of North Powys, are not welcome.

“The Welsh Labour Government set out its intention to designate a new park based on the Clewydian Range and Dee Valley Natural landscape in its manifesto ahead of the last Senedd elections.

“Since the conception of the proposals, I have not been convinced that Montgomeryshire would benefit, certainly not see more benefit than disbenefits.

“There are concerns that changes to planning regulations will negatively affect farm diversification, and serious concerns that an increased number of day visitors will put enhanced pressures on current infrastructure such as roads and parking in some areas.

Tanat Valley views. Picture by Marian Morris. “There are questions about the affordability of a further national park. This comes down to priorities. I believe that funding would be better spent upgrading existing infrastructure, than the large sums of money just examining this proposal.

“The overarching issue for me is that despite a whole range concerns and questions, no adequate assurances have been provided, and I remain opposed to the proposals.”

The meeting was chaired by farmer and S4C presenter Alun Elidyr, with around 250 people reportedly in attendance.

Elwyn Vaughan, of Plaid Cymru and who has also been critical of plans, also attended, posting on his Facebook page that there are “real concerns” about proposals.

“The message is clear by 250 tonight,” he said.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley are included in proposals to create a fourth national park in Wales - including parts of North Powys. (Image: Natural Resources Wales) “No to a new national park costing £6m a year whilst existing parks and Powys County Council struggle to sustain services.”

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Cllr Vaughan said: “It's difficult to see the advantages of a new national park whilst facing multi-million pound cuts in Powys.

“The existing national parks already face cuts and financial pressures, it is inevitable therefore that the creation of an extra local authority in essence will draw from the same ever diminishing pot of money and exasperate the situation.

“NRW is cutting 250 posts, closing visitor centres and can’t undertake essential environmental work – surely wouldn’t it be better to give the £30m to clean our rivers and get proper environmental benefits?

“Our schools budgets are cut to the bone, more schools are set to close, leisure centres are under threat, effects of high inflation and now further cuts by the new Labour government crippling all public services – having a new authority now is not sustainable.”

Councillor Vaughan has asked Powys residents to respond to proposals and give their views at https://shorturl.at/acP9x.

Ash Pearce, programme manager in NRW’s designated landscapes programme team, said: “While we have a statutory procedure to follow, we want to ensure that this is an inclusive process and that people have the opportunity to share their views on the proposals.”