Locals say they’re being ‘punished’ by new beach charges as over-tourism sparks row
- UK Hidden Gems
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Local people say they are being “punished” by new rules brought in to deal with too many tourists at popular spots in North Wales.
Anger has grown after parking charges were doubled at a famous Anglesey beach.
The price for a day ticket at Traeth Llanddwyn jumped from £7 to £15, and the steep rise was brought in to try and cut traffic problems at one of Wales’ busiest and most-loved beaches.
The nearby village of Newborough is often jammed with cars as visitors rush to the beach, which rose to fame after being featured in HBO’s House of the Dragon.
To control traffic further, the 300-space car park is being closed once it reaches capacity over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The move has caused upset across the Menai Strait. Some have compared it to the problems Eryri has faced with too many visitors, with locals once again saying they are the ones paying the price.
Writing online, one conservationist who lives in the National Park said: “We are barely coping with over-tourism in Wales and it feels like the wrong people are paying for it.
“I grew up on Ynys Môn but now it’s almost impossible to come back. I’ve lost much of my culture and only have memories, as the places I used to enjoy are now too expensive and overcrowded.”
People living near Newborough can still park for free at the beach, which sits next to Newborough Forest and its rolling dunes.
Around the rest of Anglesey, residents can buy discounted annual permits for £35, while everyone else must pay £70 a year or face the higher daily charges.
A frequent visitor from Llanberis, who enjoys outdoor activities, fears the parking rise is nothing more than a “money-making scheme” and will not solve Newborough’s traffic problems. He questioned why Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which runs the nature reserve, won’t bring in cheaper off-peak rates.
In summer, many locals avoid the beach even though it is often ranked among the best in the UK, as the crowds and queues make it less appealing. Most say they only return during the quieter low season when tourist numbers drop.
On social media, the Llanberis man wrote: “North Wales is not a rich area and many locals use the beach all year for walks, fresh air and mental health. Tourists can afford the higher prices, but local people can’t. NRW says it wants to encourage off-peak visits, but the pricing doesn’t offer any incentive.”
He added: “We already have our own problems with visitors here in Llanberis, especially at the lagoons and Dinorwic Quarry. But NRW’s decision to double the parking charges at Llanddwyn only seems to hurt locals, not the holidaymakers it is supposed to target.”
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As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
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