Eight motorcyclists from Devon have become some of the first visitors caught out by newly installed ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) parking cameras at Llyn Tegid in Bala, Eryri National Park – also known as Snowdonia. The cameras, introduced on July 13 to discourage overnight camping and better manage visitor numbers, reportedly recorded the bikers entering the car park twice after they stopped to buy ice creams, unaware that new parking charges had been implemented.
Each rider is set to receive two £60 penalty notices, bringing the group’s total fines to £960. One of the bikers recounted the experience on a local notice board, claimed: “None of us remembers seeing any new signage in that motorcycle area. We would of course have paid the measly £1 charge if we had been made aware of it. Sadly, it has put a bitter taste in our mouths after visiting your beautiful countryside.” The incident comes amid growing local frustration over the new parking measures, with many residents arguing that they are being priced out of accessing their own lake.
A petition has since been launched urging Eryri National Park Authority (ENPA) to provide 24-hour free access to the lake’s car parks. The changes follow years of congestion and overcrowding during peak tourist seasons in Bala, prompting authorities to expand parking capacity, increase fees and install solar-powered ANPR cameras in an effort to manage the impact of overtourism.
Parking now costs £5 for up to four hours, with a daily rate of £8. Separate tariffs apply for watersports users, while Blue Badge holders get double the standard time allowance. Meanwhile, motorcyclists are now charged £1 to park in a spot they say was previously free, reports North Wales Live.
While overnight parking bans at nine other car parks were suspended in June following public opposition, the restrictions remain in place at the two Bala car parks, which are being used as part of a pilot scheme to test new measures aimed at managing visitor numbers and preventing overnight stays.
ENPA said the pilot scheme was introduced to help it manage its car parks more effectively and to ensure the correct parking charges are paid.
It’s hoped the new arrangements will also “improve the visitor experience” and contribute towards the sites’ ongoing maintenance.
To clamp down on overnight parking, both car parks are now closed from 12am to 2am each day.
Bethan Wyn Hughes, ENPA’s director of corporate services, said the pilot would run until the end of the October half-term. Thereafter, the ANPR system would remain operational – but changes could be introduced.