Fury as 'lovely beach' becomes 'no-go area' after campervan invasion

Holidaymakers – particularly those travelling in campervans – are being urged to park "sensibly" when visiting one are of Wales this summer. Furious locals in Gwynedd who are plagued by reckless parking worry the council's polite plea will be ignored.

A perceived lack of enforcement is being blamed for some of the chaos witnessed in North Wales this summer. Residents say laybys, seafronts and scenic spots are packed with rubbish-dumping motorhome owners who refuse to pay for proper campsites.

"Why bother paying when you can park free overnight in laybys all the way from Llanberis to Betws-y-Coed?" sighed one woman online. Efforts by Cyngor Gwynedd to offer serviced parking areas for overnight motorhomes and campervans are viewed are seen as a mixed bag. There are four of these "arosfan" sites in north Gwynedd, costing £16.50 per night. It comes after UK drivers were warned over 'avoiding' road instead of having to follow new rule.

Despite being more affordable than many campsites, Llanberis residents say an eight-space arosfan at Y Glyn ("The Lagoons") by Llyn Padarn is regularly ignored. Not long ago, a local man spotted one motorhome at the site – and 25 non-payers camped on the site's access road, reports North Wales Live

Another trouble spot is an extensive beachfront parking zone near Caernarfon airport close to Dinas Dinlle. Facing west, it's regarded as a perfect location for witnessing spectacular sunsets.

Last year, Cyngor Gwynedd Maritime Service prohibited overnight parking and camping there. One local resident has taken to the internet to vent her frustration, claiming that at times, "50-plus" campers are still parking up for the night. In a fiery message to the council, she said: "They are turning our lovely beach into a no-go area."

She didn't stop there, adding: "You ban us residents from walking our dogs on the beach during tourist season, you hike the parking prices so again so regular visits for locals are no longer affordable – yet you continually turn a blind eye to visitors in vans parking up in laybys, passing places, beaches etc, dumping rubbish and dirty water.

"Why not give us residents passes to use our local attractions, and charge and fine the visitors? You'd raise far more money and keep residents happy – we pay enough council tax."

It's not just this resident who's had enough. Folks in Llanbedr have voiced similar concerns, with the lack of parking spaces in south Gwynedd becoming a real issue for communities dealing with their own parking problems.

Car drivers haven't escaped criticism either. Things reached boiling point last month when Bala's lakeside car parks were swamped. Desperate visitors resorted to parking wherever they could, even if it meant blocking driveways, access points and bus turning areas.

Enforcement was carried out by Cyngor Gwynedd (CCG) and now, with another heatwave looming, the local authority is warning that those parking irresponsibly could face fines.

In social media posts published this weekend, the council urged motorhome enthusiasts to reserve spots at the county's designated arosfan locations. Tackling broader parking issues, a spokesperson stated: "Popular locations can be busy over the summer period.

"Parking irresponsibly and blocking roads can make it difficult for emergency services to pass - remember this when parking. If a car park is full, consider other locations to visit. You can be fined if you don't keep to the parking rules."

In Llanberis, volunteers from the Pentref Taclus (Tidy Village) group toil to maintain the community's pristine appearance. Yet confronted with an onslaught of motorhomes, often leaving rubbish in their wake, it can be an unrewarding endeavour.

Cyngor Gwynedd was approached for comment by North Wales Live. The county's first arosfan for motorhomes was launched in Criccieth in March 2024. The local council has also expressed plans to establish a similar site in Meirrionydd. The four pilot sites are:

• Maes Car Park, Criccieth (LL52 0BT)
• Y Glyn, Llanberis (LL55 4TY)
• Cei’r Gogledd, Pwllheli (LL53 5YR)
• Doc Fictoria Car Park, Caernarfon (LL55 1SQ)