Parking lockdown to continue at popular beach as warning issued

LOCAL RESIDENTS SAID THERE WERE ALREADY SIGNS THE MEASURE WAS CREATING 'UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES' IN NORTH WALES 10:28, 29 May 2025 A parking lockdown trial at a popular North Wales

beach is to be extended through the summer. In an attempt to ease congestion in Newborough, the measure was first implemented at an Anglesey beach over the Bank Holiday weekend. Site

manager Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has begun closing the large beach car park when full to prevent long traffic queues forming for Traeth Llanddwyn, which often back up into the village.

All beach-bound traffic is then diverted until the car park is reopened later in the day. Last weekend traffic flows were lower than expected, and the beach car park was closed just once due

to poor weather. On top of leaving some visitors bewildered, Newborough residents said there were already signs the measure was creating “unintended consequences”. With beach parking prices

now doubled, up to £15 for a day visit, locals worry the combined impact will shift parking away from the beach and onto local roads and residential streets. Newborough housing estates like

Tyn y Cae and Rhoddfa Merrick were reported to be as busy as ever, despite reduced visitor numbers, reports North Wales Live. Anglesey Council traffic wardens issued three parking tickets

last weekend, all on the A4080 by Llyn Parc Mawr in Newborough Forest north of the village. Meanwhile, residents near Llangefni fear redirected traffic is heading to Llyn Cefni instead,

causing problems there. Regular day-trippers from Gwynedd have also complained of being "punished" for over-tourism by being priced out of visits to the beach. Article continues

below NRW’s measures, in principle, have been welcomed by Newborough’s long-suffering residents, who often struggle to leave their homes, or return to them, when the village is gridlocked.

NRW said the parking lockdown trial is due to continue “until further notice” during busy periods – mainly sunny weekends. It may be fine-turned based on local feedback. An NRW spokesperson

said: “The trial had been discussed with the local community and stakeholders before being introduced. "Initial feedback has been positive, and we will repeat the trial before reviewing

evidence and speaking to the local community before making a decision on wider implementation. “We also had staff on site over the weekend who prevented a number of people from camping

overnight. We would also like to thank the local residents who were handing out leaflets to motorists when the car park was closed promoting other sites on the island.” Last weekend’s

parking measures were earmarked for three days. Due to lower-than-expected holiday traffic, Llanddwyn’s beach car was shut down only on Sunday, May 25, with cars allowed back in after

3.30pm. On the approach to the village at Pen-lôn roundabout, an electronic sign advised motorists the car park was “full” and to go elsewhere. By 1.30pm that day, local walkers reported the

300-space car park was “only half full”. By 3.30pm, they counted just 28 cars. A baffled visitor noticed the same and wondered if some kind of emergency had been declared. Another, from

South Wales, added online: “At 14:00 there was absolutely no reason for the road to be closed as there were plenty of spaces - literally half empty. There are more intelligent ways to manage

car parks and it’s only going to move the problem elsewhere.” That’s the worry at Llyn Cefni, Anglesey’s second largest reservoir with walking trails and a nature reserve. One site guardian

fears it could be the next “over-tourism hellhole” if Llanddwyn’s visitors head there instead. Recreational activities on the lake are banned but site custodians have complained of plastic

waste littering and parking on “dangerous” road sections. On social media, a local man said: “In other words, a direct transplant from Llanddwyn. Article continues below “We’ll certainly be

ready for any nonsense that develops over the summer. There are plenty of locals “on patrol” on dog walks at all times of day, so a new Llanddwyn this is very definitely not going to become.

"The authorities are clueless and have no excuse because over-tourism has been extensively written about in the academic press for decades by now.”