26-04-2025
Residents 'trapped' in Welsh village because tourists make it impossible to leave
Residents 'trapped' in Welsh village because tourists make it impossible to leave
Fed-up residents in Anglesey, have vowed to take matters into their own hands if the authorities fail to act on a problem that's been blighting their village for years
The crossroads at the centre of Newborough
(Image: Dale Spridgeon )
The picturesque coastal village of Newborough, Anglesey has once again been overwhelmed by a deluge of traffic as visitors flock to the iconic tree-lined beach of Traeth Llanddwyn. Residents, exasperated by years of disruption, are now threatening to take action if the authorities don't step in to address the issue.
The village has been plagued by littering, public defecation and illegal camping, which poses a fire hazard in the sprawling 2,500-acre Newborough Forest. However, it's the volume of traffic that causes the biggest challenge for locals trying to cope with the effects of over tourism.
On Easter Sunday, reports emerged of it taking residents up to 40 minutes to cover the last half-mile into Newborough due to severe congestion. Mourners also struggled to make their way to St Peter's Church for a funeral service amidst the chaos.
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With the aim of reaching the scenic 300-space car park at Traeth Llanddwyn, many found themselves stuck in queues along the 1.8-mile access road or resorting to illegal parking on the A4080 next to the forest. Cathy Sands, who manages the local Facebook page, expressed her frustration: "The Easter Bank Holiday weekend was an absolute farce," she said.
"Once again, traffic brought the village to a standstill as visitors used it as a giant car park to queue for the beach."
"The place was rammed. Cars were bumper to bumper – it was an accident waiting to happen. This has been going for years but it's getting worse and starting earlier in the year."
Gridlock on Easter Sunday left locals saying the village turned into a "giant car park"
(Image: Llanddwyn & Forest Support Group )
Over the weekend, locals were left seething as a half-mile stretch of the A4080 between Newborough and Malltraeth was clogged with cars double-parked on double yellow lines. The situation escalated with vehicles cramming into residential areas and obstructing driveways, leaving some residents effectively imprisoned in their own homes throughout Sunday - a scenario that is all too familiar on busy days.
The introduction of double yellow lines on the A4080 back in June 2021 was meant to address these parking woes, but not everyone was pleased, as it stopped some locals from parking close to their homes.
Cathy continued: "Since then, traffic wardens have visited the area just once. For the double-yellow lines to be effective, they must be properly policed. When they were put down, we were assured this would happen – but it hasn't."
"At the forest, people were even parking across entrances reserved for the emergency services. Fire is a real risk there and the fire service needs good access to prevent the worst from happening."
Anglesey Council responded to allegations of insufficient traffic wardening. In a statement, Huw Percy, the Head of Highways, Waste and Property, said: "Civil enforcement officers have regularly monitored the area, including last weekend, issuing penalty charge notices upon vehicles which are parked on yellow lines and within restricted bays, caused obstructions or compromised safety."
Last week an out-of-control campsite fire spread to surrounding vegetation in Newborough Forest
(Image: Llanddwyn & Forest Support Group )
Subsequently, the council provided further clarification regarding Easter enforcement, a spokesperson said: "A parking warden visited Newborough on three separate occasions over the Easter weekend, each at different times.
"During these visits, no issues were identified that fell within the Council's enforcement remit, and as such, no fines were issued. We continue to monitor the area, particularly during periods of good weather when higher visitor numbers are expected.
"We welcome input from the community regarding specific times and locations where enforcement may be needed and are keen to work collaboratively to address any concerns."
Many locals are urging the council to adopt an approach similar to those in Cyngor Gwynedd's near Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and in the Ogwen Valley within Eryri (Snowdonia), with suggestions of towing away improperly parked cars.
Meanwhile, potential solutions such as park-and-ride services and overflow parking are being considered by NRW and its partners. In recent weeks, local NRW wardens have been praised for cracking down on illegal camping in the forest, although the risk of fires remains a concern for the community.
Newborough was overwhelmed by cars trying to reach the beach
(Image: Llanddwyn & Forest Support Group )
The village is in urgent need of traffic improvements. One resident expressed her frustration after getting caught in the chaos on Sunday, saying: "Gridlock in Pen-lôn, gridlock coming from Malltraeth to Newborough, gridlock around the village. Took me 30 minutes to get from Tre Rhosyr to Pen Rhos (two streets in the village 0.3 miles apart)! Summer not even here yet! God help us all."
Another resident shared that her father had an easier time getting to Llandudno on Sunday than travelling from Pen-lôn to Newborough, which took him 50 minutes. Traffic management contractors at Church Street beach road had to turn away other beachgoers, facing a barrage of abuse for their efforts.
Cathy said: "The abuse they got was horrific. Some of the language was terrible."
Tourists were keen to reach the stunning Llanddwyn beach
(Image: Crown copyright/Visit Wales (all rights reserved) )
In a bid to tackle traffic woes, Anglesey Council recently received a £2.4m boost from the Welsh Government to progress with stage two of an active travel scheme linking Malltraeth and Newborough. The plan is to extend the Lon Las Cefni network, encouraging residents to walk or cycle, in hopes of reducing congestion.
Despite this, some locals remain sceptical.
Mr Percy said the Isle of Anglesey County Council is well aware of Llanddwyn's growing popularity and its effects on the community.
He said: "The Isle of Anglesey County Council recognises that Llanddwyn has become an increasingly popular destination and is aware of the impact this is having on the local community."
"To help manage this, the authority is supporting NRW in expanding parking provision over the summer months, and remains committed to working with partners and residents on a longer-term solution to ease congestion - though it is acknowledged this will take time.
While some Newborough Forest and Llanddwyn beach villagers are calling for restricted access to non-locals, the majority are simply seeking solutions, emphasising they are not against tourists. However, their patience has been tested when they've encountered human waste in the area.
The public toilets in the village have been shut for over a decade, and despite a recent consultation in support of their reopening, locals have been informed that the costs are too high.
Speaking to North Wales Live, one resident recounted a disturbing incident: "A friend was recently walking along the beach when he trod on human excrement buried beneath a thin layer of sand. He knew it was human because of all the tissue paper buried with it."
"We're seeing more and more of it in the area because people have no where to go. It's not very pleasant! It was disappointing to see the public toilets won't be reopened. Not for our sakes – we all have toilets at home! Having such a facility here would make it a more pleasant experience for visitors."
Currently, the site of the former toilets is being used as a parking area, with a recent consultation suggesting further development of this use. Proposals include reserving parking exclusively for locals or allowing mixed use, but all options would involve demolishing the existing toilet block.
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However, Mr Percy has indicated that the decision to reopen the toilets is still open for consideration, stating: "The public toilets have been closed since 2011-12 with the site currently serving only as a parking area for limited local use.
"The council has recently engaged with stakeholders, including local residents, to gain a better understanding of the community's needs and to explore potential improvements for the site. However, it is unlikely that opening the public toilets would influence or have an impact on the behaviours of some visitors in the forestry.
