COLUMN: New National Park, not what it seems

The idea to create a new National Park in Wales that would have Montgomeryshire as its southern gateway has created plenty of discussion, and Plaid Cymru candidate for the next General Election, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan, has looked at the plans in depth and offers some words of warning. 

"Welsh Government has commissioned Natural Resources Wales, as the Designating Authority in Wales, to evaluate the case for a new National Park based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

However, the proposed boundary of the National Park has been extended South to the A458 and the Banwy Valley and a large part of Montgomeryshire. The case for a new National Park will be considered within the existing Senedd term (2021-2026). 

Following the consultation, all responses and any amendments to the boundary will be considered before presenting a recommendation to Welsh Government.

Some state a range of reasons for having a new national Park, such as:

• Helps biodiversity – yet recent studies have shown that the existence of a national Park makes no difference to the biodiversity of the area. An AONB status area or non-status area is as good as a national park area.
• Some think it may stop pylons, yet a row of them existed from Trawsfynydd in the heart of Eryri National Park to Porthmadog crossing Dwyryd Estuary. 
• That it may help sort congestion problems. Yet tell that to the residents of Llanbedr, Llanberis, Beddgelert and Nant Ffrancon in Eryri! 

What it will do is:

·      cost circa £4m a year – at a time Powys will need to save £18m next year alone.

·      Increase the costs of housing 25% above average according to the Nationwide, thus making it even harder for our young people.

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.

Our schools’ budgets are cut to the bone, more schools are set to close, leisure centres are under threat, and inflation as a result of the Liz Truss budget crippling all public services having a new authority now is not sustainable.  

If we have £4m to invest then better to invest in economic development, promote enterprise, support innovative ideas by our young people add value to food and drink and environmental goods and services thus creating living vibrant rural communities and incorporate the best values of a National Park in the new LDP – Local Development Plan. 

That is why at the next Powys full council I’ll be presenting a motion to formally oppose the inclusion of areas of Powys within the new National Park area and recommends a maximum southern boundary based on the county boundary and the summit ridges of the Berwyn Hills."