UK tourist hotspot introduces strict new measures amid gridlock chaos
Llangollen, a popular gateway to Wales that attracts thousands of tourists, will introduce the additional parking spaces after struggling with a surge in visitors
The picturesque Welsh town of Llangollen in Dee Valley is set to welcome nearly 180 extra parking spaces to cope with a surge in visitor numbers. During the bustling peak season, Llangollen often grapples with an influx of tourists, sparking fears that the town centre could become even more congested if it's included in a new national park.
Llangollen is home to six car parks, one of which is the top earner in Denbighshire. Among these is a site at Llangollen Pavilion, the venue for the town's International Musical Eisteddfod, which is due to reveal a fresh parking area on Thursday, May 15.
The Eisteddfod team, now tasked with overseeing the Pavilion, said they took action in response to the frequent lack of parking in Llangollen town centre. David Hennigan, a director on the Eisteddfod Board, voiced his belief that the new facility was sorely needed.
He shared: "The other day I was speaking to someone from Ruthin who said they would like to visit Llangollen more often but they always found it a struggle to park.
"Over the last Bank Holiday weekend, you could see cars driving around trying to find some where to park – the town centre was rammed! It's been a major issue in Llangollen for a while."
"It seemed such a shame that when Llangollen was gridlocked, we had all this space available on the Pavilion grounds just a few minutes walk away. As we're always trying to encourage town centre trade, we hope this provision will help - we see it as a win-win for everyone."
North Wales Live reports that Llangollen is a charming town nestled by the River Dee and a popular entry point to Wales, attracting thousands of tourists. The town is part of a World Heritage Site, thanks to its beloved canal, and features a heritage railway and scenic hills that are a magnet for walkers.
The Pavilion will soon offer 80 new hard-surface parking spaces in an area typically used for stalls during the Eisteddfod. Additional parking will be available on grass, with both areas accessible throughout the year.
Parking fees at the main car park will begin at 70p for 30 minutes, £6 for up to eight hours, and £10 for 12 hours. The Pavilion field car park will have the same charges but with a maximum stay of eight hours.
Multiple payment methods will be accepted, although overnight parking will not be allowed. Parents dropping off or picking up pupils from Ysgol Dinas Bran will not incur any charges.
To manage the car park and Eisteddfod grounds, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed and will operate around the clock.
Organisers hope that improved security measures will deter anti-social behaviour and provide peace of mind for visitors spending the day in the Llangollen area.
While boasting an 80-space car park, the Pavilion is struggling to maximise its potential being 500 metres from the town centre.
According to Denbighshire Council's figures, during 2023/24, the Pavilion's parking facility only generated £3,484.73 – a figure dwarfed by the Market Street council car park which is smack in the middle of Llangollen, raking in over 50 times as much.
Parking tensions are on the rise in the town, with Market Street's long-stay car park seeing a significant uptick in issued parking fines.
In the year 2023, a total of 359 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were handed out by the council, showing an increase of 146 from the previous year, and by mid-August 2024, the total was already at a comparable level with 349 PCNs issued.
Even with new edge-of-town parking options on the horizon, they won't entirely solve Llangollen's parking problems, as these spaces will be unavailable when there are no events scheduled at the Pavilion or on its grounds.
Still, John Gambles, chair of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, remains positive about the local impact of this initiative. He reminiscences: "For as long as I can remember, parking has been a huge issue in the centre of Llangollen."
Gambles highlights the proactive steps undertaken since taking over the Pavilion: "When we took over the Pavilion full-time in April, one of the first things we did was look if it was possible to open up our site for additional car parking.
"Any revenue raised will go towards running the Pavilion for the benefit of Llangollen and towards the running of the Llangollen Eisteddfod."
The Dee Valley is on track to be incorporated into Wales' latest national park, which is presently in the process of being designated.
A study by estate agency Purplebricks has disclosed that homes within the proposed national park boundaries are already commanding prices up to £100,000 higher than those outside.
Critics are concerned about a potential surge in popularity in places like Llangollen if the national park becomes a reality.
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