I was delighted to read in the County Times recently an account of an enlightened public meeting that took place in Llanrhaeadr-ym-mochnant regarding the proposed new National Park which would engulf the area.

The hall was packed and voted unanimously against the whole idea. Bravo!

Congratulations to the Llanrhaeadr community for your realistic approach. Locals know best. 

You have shown great understanding, perception of the situation and determination.

OTHER NEWS:

All strength to your elbow and keep it up, and I hope that all other threatened communities in the proposed area of this “Park” will follow suit. If not, they are going to regret it.

Why do I say that? Because the minute you put up that National Park sign the whole world and his wife – and dogs – will descend on the area like locusts, devouring the peace and tranquility, creating mayhem on the roads, parking illegally, over-nighting in laybyes or any vacant spot – anything to avoid paying – leaving mountains of rubbish. Signs mean nothing today! 

Being so near the English border most of these people will be day visitors and, as we know, will contribute very little if anything to the local economy but impose great costs on the local councils and the environment. 

The majority of this influx will have no real interest in the area but there to have a free day out and give the dog a good run! I know because I live in a National Park and have seen the consequences. 

Of course, we know that the reason behind the English Government’s drive to create new National Parks (yes, that’s where the idea originated, not in Wales) is that they would dearly like to do away with farming in Wales altogether and turn the place into a playground for the urban millions which they can’t cope with in their own country. 

And Wales is so close – a convenient pressure vent! The very term “National Park” has been misleading from the start, suggesting that this patch of land is in  “national” ownership and therefore gives people special rights to do as they please.

This new Park must be resisted with all our might to prevent this lovely tranquil area from losing its rights and its character for ever.

Designation would be its death knell. The only argument I hear in favour of National Parks is that they deter windfarms. My goodness! If ever there was an indictment on Government that must be one. That’s sheer dictatorship/blackmail: accept the National Park or be saddled with a windfarm! What sort of democracy is that?

There is a world trend now against mass tourism because it is now acknowledged that it brings destruction of character, community and environment.

What we need in Wales is an independent, properly financed Tourist Board to disperse beneficial tourism around the whole of our beautiful country and not to funnel it into artificial and over-used “National Parks”.

We certainly don’t need another one of those.
Marian Rees
Tal-y-llyn