02-05-2025
Newborough: Anger at traffic gridlock at House of Dragon beach
People living close to a popular north Wales beach made famous by hit TV series House of the Dragons say their lives are in "lockdown" due to traffic beach, also known as Newborough, and nature reserve on Anglesey have long attracted visitors for their natural problems around congestion have worsened since the beach found fame as a film villagers are threatening to protest unless something is done to alleviate the issue that leaves some "afraid" to leave their Resources Wales (NRW) and Anglesey council said they are trying to find a long-term solution to the problem.
More than 40 people attended a public meeting on Thursday night to discuss traffic Geraint Thomas said matters had worsened in the past five years."Because film crews from all over the world have been here, Llanddwyn is a very popular place," he said."It's a lockdown, nobody can pass. Four roads to Llanddwyn all come together in Newborough and it's [causing] road rage and people are starting to argue. It'll get messy in the end."When an ambulance or fire service want to come down they have no chance. "It has gone on for years but nothing has been done and the people of Newborough are starting to lose patience. Maybe a protest is needed to get the authorities to respond."Newborough resident Heather Savage said the situation was "terrible"."You can't move, you get anywhere because the road just clogs up. Nothing works, my world isn't working," she said."Every year it gets worse and every year they say they're going to do something at this time of year and nothing happens."
Councillor John Ifan Jones said the objections were not aimed at tourists."We are not protesting against tourism in the area. We are protesting because we don't have the infrastructure in place to deal with the flow of traffic," he said."We've been living with a traffic control system that we've had for five years, since Covid and NRW says that's a temporary system."It's important that people can go to work in the morning, go to the shop and they shouldn't have to plan their life around a complete traffic jam in the village."
NRW said it understood the "frustrations" felt by the community, similar to those felt at other popular visitor locations, when car parks quickly become said the issues at Newborough were "complicated" but has introduced an enhanced traffic management system and were deploying additional staff during peak year, NRW will also trial the use of electronic messaging signs to alert motorists of car park closures further from the village as well as satellite car parking and consider the viability of a park-and-ride system.A spokesperson added: "The traffic management and access situation at Newborough is very complicated and there is no one solution to solve it."Those visiting are being advised of the potential for traffic congestion, to respect the local community and environment and to prepare for the car park to be full at busy times."We are asking people to think about planning their visit at different times or to consider one of the many other fantastic beaches and destinations on council said it was "committed" to helping find a long-term solution but also admitted there was no easy of Highways Huw Percy added: "The council recognises that Llanddwyn and the Newborough Forest has become an extremely popular destination and is aware of the negative effects this has on the local community."We will continue to work to find proactive steps that will reduce the local impact and a sustainable solution but, unfortunately, there is no easy solution and this will take time."
