Latest news with #Llanberis
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
F*** your second homes! Welsh village where English hating locals are revolting over 300 PER CENT council tax hikes on Airbnbs
The park by Llyn Padarn, the stunning lake at the foot of Snowdon, is full to overflowing as the late afternoon sun shimmers off the water and the mountains beyond. Tourists from all over the world flock to the resort of Llanberis to marvel at its natural beauty, and most enjoy the holiday of a lifetime. But scratch the surface and that famous welcome in the hillsides might be wearing a little thin. Dotted around the park on the back of parking ticket machines and signs are stickers bearing sinister messages for the tourists, clearly intended to send them packing. One, which has appeared only recently, rekindles the cottage-burning Welsh nationalist terrorist campaign of Meibion Glyndwr (sons of Glyndwr) in the 80s and early 90s, shows a blazing house with the blunt message: 'F*** your second home'. Another shows an Airbnb logo with a noose around it, proclaiming 'Death to Airbnb'. There are many tell-tale patches where other stickers have been removed, but, like the tourists they profess to hate, the vile messages keep coming back. Others say: Nid yw Cymru ar Werth or 'Wales is not for sale' And in Conwy Valley, someone daubed on a road last month: 'F*** off, Saeson' (the Welsh word for the English). No-one admits putting these messages up, but plenty of people tacitly agree with the sentiments behind them, mainly, they say, because of the unaffordability of local homes because of the burgeoning rental market. And the policy-makers at Gwynedd Council in Caernarvon have taken the protests to heart, it seems, imposing punitive taxes on those who provide accommodation for the tourists or own second homes in rural Wales. Owners of holiday lets and Airbnbs have been hit by huge council tax demands as the Welsh government tries to make having a second home there less attractive. In a decision aimed at driving out second homeowners, they have introduced a rule that owners whose properties are occupied (whether by themselves or paying guests) for fewer than 182 days have to pay council tax of up to 300%. Holiday let owners, who rent their properties for more than the 182-day threshold, are subjected to business rates, which is lower than the punitive rates of council tax. But in a further kick in the teeth to second homeowners, and those running holiday lets, the rules have been backdated to the previous year, meaning forcing them to pay even higher premiums backdated from 12 months earlier. Many owners were caught off guard because they assumed the rules would only apply going forward. Opponents claim the council tax clampdown on second homes and holiday lets has fuelled the hate campaign against English owners. Campaigner Glenis Bisson, 76, said: 'Without a doubt, there is a growing anti-English feeling because of the housing situation. 'On internet forums, the Welsh nationalists are extremely abusive to people who are English. 'Welsh nationalism is on the rise. They are angry and feel that the English are selling to the English. 'They thought that these council tax and Article 4 measures would suddenly allow them to buy cheap housing but it's nonsense. 'They whole thing has backfired.' The mother-of-four added: 'There have been posters being put up around a few months back with houses on fire in Pwllheli. 'They were using the same emblem that was used for the as they did for the Free Wales Army back in the 1980s. 'They were put on all the lampposts in Pwllheli and wherever they could stick them. 'It is just the attitude of the nationalists that is hardening not the normal Welsh people. 'A lot of them are angry and horrified by all this. There is a lot of stress around the housing situation.' Meanwhile this week, a shadowy Welsh nationalist youth movement, called Mudiad Eryr Wen whose members prefer to stay anonymous, released a statement railing against 'the cancer' of second homes and the rapid process of anglicisation caused by an 'influx' of English speakers. An unnamed representative from Mudiad Eryr Wen said: 'The encroachment of second homes in places like Borth is hollowing out our communities, driving locals from their family homes, and replacing them with husks that stand lifeless for most of the year. 'This creeping cancer is stripping our communities of their character, weakening the bonds that hold us together, and turning our nation into a vast holiday resort for the wealthy few. Therefore, we remind them: 'Cenedl nid Gwesty.' [a nation, not a hotel]. They added: 'We will not stand by while small-minded anglophiles drag our language toward extinction. 'We will not stop until the process of anglicisation is halted, and utterly reversed.' Among its 'ten principles', the group stated: 'Holiday lets and second homes, belonging to either Welsh or outsider, should be rendered economically untenable.' And what of the tourists who flock to Wales? Does all this make them feel like spending their hard-earned cash somewhere else? The Mail spoke to several in Llanberis and on the coast at Pwllheli Sharon Wainwright, 54 and her daughter Poppy, 16 from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, bought a static caravan at Abersoch near Pwllheli in 2019, near where football stars Wayne Rooney and Kyle Walker are also owners at the Warren, an exclusive development nearby. Sharon said: 'I've never had direct animosity from people but one of our friends on the caravan site has. 'She told us that her son broke his wrist playing and when she took him to the local hospital the doctor was quite rude about them being 'a drain' on the Welsh NHS, which upset them, and they went home early. 'You occasionally see these stickers with their anti-English sentiment, but I think it's a small minority of people who feel that way. 'Having said that, I understand their point that it's hard for young people to afford to live in these places, but the answer surely has to be to provide housing that's only for locals – don't take it out on the tourists who are bringing money to the area and providing jobs. 'But there are other things going on like closing local schools and if they do that, they drive people away into the bigger towns and cities.' Poppy, who works part-time in a local café in the upmarket seaside resort of Abersoch, said her local friends admitted that tourism isn't without its benefits. 'They don't like all the traffic jams that the tourists cause and they're not keen on having so many people around all the time, but then they'll admit that without the visitors, there would be a lot less money. 'It's a bit of a double-edged sword.' Ironically enough, Poppy and her mother were standing right alongside a double-edged sword, the iconic 20ft Llafn y Cewri (Blade of the Giants) sculpture in Llanberis as we spoke. 'When I've paid on buses sometimes,' added Poppy, 'the driver has made some slur under his breath about 'English people' in Welsh, which I don't understand, but my friend noticed it. Otherwise people are generally polite and friendly.' Unlike many of the passing visitors in Llanberis, Carl Abbott, 59 and his 60-year-old wife Alison from Cwmbran, South Wales, spotted the chilling sticker of a blazing house in Llanberis and immediately recognised its significance. 'It's a pretty nasty throwback to the bad old days,' said Carl, who works in the housing sector. 'It reminded me of that sketch on Not the Nine O'Clock News.' In the closing credits of a 1980 edition of the satirical comedy show they showed a blazing grate with the voiceover: 'Come home to a real fire….buy a cottage in Wales'. The Meibion Glyndwr group firebombed more than 200 properties during a 12-year period between 1979 and 1992, though police never convicted anyone of being directly involved. 'That nasty little sign is the only anti-visitor message that I've seen,' said Carl. 'I understand where they're coming from, but I think it's a bit simplistic to blame the housing crisis on the tourists. It began when Margaret Thatcher started selling off the council houses and it's carried on. 'People talk about affordable homes, but they're often not affordable for young people starting out. I can see it's very polarised up here because while you've got rural poverty, you've also got retired people coming in with a lot of money, driving the prices up, or even gazumping people.' French-born Alex Correia, 35, and his wife Molly were sunbathing in Llanberis on a break from their home in Newcastle. 'We're in a motorhome, so we're not taking anyone's house,' laughed Alex. 'But seriously, if you took away all the tourists, where would people around here find jobs? 'There must be a better way to handle this than pricing out the people providing holiday lets.' Molly, 31, said she had experienced 'no hostility at all' from locals and hadn't noticed the anti-tourist stickers. 'It's a lovely place to come and hopefully the money we spend here will keep the local economy going,' she said. 'The whole place seems to be geared to attracting tourists from the National Park to Zip World [an outdoor adventure park featuring a 500ft high, mile-long zipline ride at 100mph] In Pwllheli, Jo Dell, 59, and her partner Rob Camm, 63, from Winchcombe, Glos, have seen plenty of tourists drive up prices in their own corner of the Cotswolds. Jo said: 'We see the same problem where we live in the Cotswolds of local people being priced out of buying a home, but just telling the tourists to go home wouldn't solve anything, it would just cause a local economic collapse.' Rob added: 'It strikes me that if people are moving away from villages for other reasons like work, then if these houses weren't holiday lets, who would be in them?' NHS worker Graham Prydderch, 53, and daughters Mabli, 10 and Mali, 9, from Ruthin were fishing off Pwllheli dock. Graham said: 'These stickers are nothing short of disgusting, but there is a serious point that villages have lost their sense of community with all the people coming in from outside. 'Obviously many places around here need tourists to survive, but there has to be a balance, and for young local people looking to buy a house it's a nightmare. ' In the celebrity haunt of Abersoch, independent councillor John Brynmor Hughes told us why he was desperate to sell the five-bedroomed home in the village which he inherited after the death of his father. Unless they could dispose of the property within 12 months it would cost them £5,000 a year in council tax, because Gwynedd council has chosen to charge second-home owners up to 300 per cent more. The punishing tax hike is designed to free up homes for local buyers who are being priced out of the market. But second-home owners are finding their properties simply won't budge — leaving them caught in a costly tax trap. Abersoch is a holiday hotspot with the UK's second highest share of second homes up for sale, accounting for 10 per cent of the market, according to the estate agents Hamptons. 'The bottom has fallen out of the housing market in Abersoch and prices are dropping throughout the area,' said Mr Brynmor Hughes, 72, a retired pub landlord. 'The second-home premium is a killer. A lot of local people I grew up with are now inheriting their parent's houses and having to sell them, or at least trying to, because they can't afford to pay the extra council tax.' According to hospitality chiefs, the same thing has happened across Wales. The Professional Association of Self-Caterers (PASC) UK has accused the Welsh Government of a continued failure to support the tourism and hospitality industry, and noticed a significant downturn in visitor numbers amid growing pessimism among operators. According to the Welsh Government's own data, 47 per cent of self-catering operators have seen a fall in visitor numbers this year and only 16 per cent of businesses feel 'very confident' they can stay in the black this year. This comes on top of another Welsh Government report on GB Domestic Tourism, published in April 2025, this showed that overnight stays in Wales fell by an alarming 29% between 2022 and 2024. 'These reports lay bare the economic damage being inflicted on Welsh tourism,' Nicky Williamson, PASC UK's Lead Policy Advisor in Wales, told the Mail. 'What we are witnessing is the avoidable erosion of a vital sector, one that sustains jobs, communities, and Welsh culture. The figures are shocking, but not surprising to those of us on the ground.' The 182-day occupancy rule, requiring properties to be let for half a year to qualify as a holiday let is proving especially damaging, she said. 'This is not a policy designed to support genuine businesses, it's a punitive approach that makes it harder for responsible operators to stay afloat,' Williamson added. 'It's devastating rural and coastal communities without achieving its aims.'
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
National Slate Museum gets £12m lottery money for revamp
A slate museum has been awarded £12m for redevelopment work aimed at preserving the heritage site for future Wales has been given the grant as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund for work on the National Slate Museum in Llanberis, Grade I listed building has been home to the museum since 1972 when it was first opened to the public after the closure of the Dinorwig slate quarry in money is intended to transform it into "a gateway to our history and culture". In 2021, the slate landscape of north-west Wales became the UK's 33rd site on the UNESCO World Heritage slate landscapes of Snowdonia are said to have "roofed the 19th Century world" as slate from its quarries was exported around the globe. Nowadays, the area is popular with tourists and nature Wales said the planned redevelopment would "retain the essence of the industrial workshops which sit at the heart of the site", while "sharing and celebrating" the role the area played on a global will include a new learning centre, play area, shop and cafe, as well as improving staff at the museum speak Welsh, and bosses say the language "will be embedded at all stages of the project".The redevelopment will also include the creation of new jobs, work placements and traineeships. Jane Richardson, chief executive of Museum Wales, said she was "truly thrilled".She added: "This is a key milestone in the Llanberis redevelopment project and is exciting news for us, for the wider community, and for everyone in Wales."Andrew White, the National Lottery Heritage Fund director for Wales, added the money would "unlock vital opportunities for communities across north Wales".The building is currently closed to the public, but work has already begun to move items from the museum to temporary locations in preparation for building works on site.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Euro 2025: Wales name squad at Yr Wyddfa summit
Update: Date: 07:51 BST Title: Post Content: What we don't know for sure just yet is how Rhian Wilkinson is getting to the top of Yr Wyddfa. As you can see from a couple of our pictures, the Wales head coach went up the mountain a few weeks ago - and apparently she climbed it that day. But you would think the train might be the easier option this morning. More on her choice of transport as and when we get it... Update: Date: 07:46 BST Title: Taking the train Content: Chris WathanBBC Sport Wales at Yr Wyddfa A very good morning from a sunny Llanberis. A few years back, Wales announced their squad for the men's 2022 World Cup from a miners' hall in the Rhondda hometown of then boss Rob Page. They've gone for a much bigger venue for their first women's major finals. The peak of Yr Wyddfa is just hidden away from us to the north but the green foothills point the way to Wales' highest point, where the views should be spectacular on a day like this. Thankfully, the Football Association of Wales isn't making the assembled media climb to the summit for the big reveal. We'll be boarding the Snowdown Mountain Railway for the near five-mile journey to the top, where the 23-player squad will be announced. Update: Date: 07:43 BST Title: Why a mountain? Content: Why are Wales naming their squad on a mountain, I hear you ask. Well, the Football Association of Wales tell us the idea aligns with the team's internal messaging throughout the qualifying campaign, in which reaching the summit of Yr Wyddfa was used as analogy for qualifying for a first major tournament. On top of that, the idea fits the bill when it comes to Uefa's slogan for the tournament, which is 'the summit of emotions'. Update: Date: 07:38 BST Title: Scaling the heights - and climbing a mountain Content: Rhian Wilkinson's press conferences are usually held in a hotel lounge or media room in the bowels of a stadium. But it is a different story this morning. Wales scaled new heights by reaching Euro 2025 - and Wilkinson is climbing a mountain to announce her squad for the tournament. The 23 players who make the cut will be named from the top of Yr Wyddfa - previously known as Snowdon, Wales' highest summit. "Being able to announce our first ever major tournament squad on Wales' summit will be a truly special occasion," Wilkinson explained. "The area is very close to my heart having visited regularly with my family during my time growing up in Wales." Update: Date: 07:33 BST Title: What's the plan this morning? Content: The timing of these things can be a little unpredictable, but Wales' squad for the European Championship is due to be unveiled at 09:00 BST. Rhian Wilkinson's press conference will follow - and you can watch it right here with us. We will have updates from Yr Wyddfa throughout the morning. Update: Date: 07:30 BST Title: Good morning! Content: Hello and welcome to another special day in the history of Welsh women's football. Today is the day that head coach Rhian Wilkinson names her squad for Euro 2025, the first women's major tournament in Wales' history. We will bring you all the build-up as Wales fans wait to see who will fly the flag in Switzerland this summer - and reaction as the players are announced. So stay with us for what should be an interesting morning.
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Unloved house next to Eryri National Park in Wales is going to auction: Could it be YOUR perfect project?
Few homeowners can boast a wood at the back of their house and views overlooking the Eryri National Park, also known as Snowdonia, at the front. But this is precisely what Craig y Nos in Llanberis, Wales, has on offer for a nature-loving buyer. The detached property and 2.9 acres of woodland is going up for auction via Auction House between 23 and 25 June. Craig y Nos has been owned by the same family for generations and has an auction guide price of £200,000, excluding fees. The Welsh stone house has decades of history and is now empty and ready for a new owner. The front of the property is picture-postcard ready and adorned with mature trees, shrubs and flowers. Both the front and back garden will require work and need to be cleared, tidied up and rejuvenated by the new owner. The cost of getting such work done should not be underestimated. At the back of the property there is a stone outbuilding, which could be removed or potentially turned into a livable space or storage room. As a project property, the house offers a blank canvas for a new buyer to reconfigure the space and bring it up to scratch, while maintaining the attractive period features. Though they will need replacing, the windows of the property are generously sized for a period home, ensuring each room has charming views of the surrounding countryside. Each room in the property will need to be worked on from top to bottom and none of the appliances or fittings have been tested. Downstairs there is a reception room, two living rooms and a small kitchen. Upstairs, there are currently three bedrooms, a compact office or storage space and a bathroom. Inside the main house, the property spans approximately 1,022 making it more generous than many period cottages. Daniel Lawrence, area manager for Auction House North Wales & Cheshire, told This is Money: 'After having been in the same family for several generations, this really is a rare opportunity for a nature-lover to snap up a unique home in a hugely popular location. 'Based just outside the village of Llanberis, the gateway to the Eryri National Park, the future owner will be able to enjoy easy access to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) as well as the charming cafes, restaurants and shops of the nearby village.' He added: 'The property itself is a blank canvas, giving the new owner the chance to put their own stamp on it and transform it into a truly extraordinary family home with fantastic access to the national park.' How to buy at auction Auctions are one area where good deals still come up. Properties sold this way can, in some cases, be substantially cheaper than on the open market. According to Property Auction News, the average price properties sell at auction for is around £166,000. However, properties sold in this way often - though not always - come with added complexities for the buyer. It is therefore important to do as much research as possible before buying any property at auction. Where possible, always visit the property in person before the auction. Do not underestimate how much renovation work or reconfigurations could cost if you are taking on a project property. If a garden is heavily overgrown, do factor in that getting it cleared could potentially cost thousands of pounds if the work is undertaken by professionals. Read legal documents for the property carefully and, when possible, get advice from a solicitor before heading to the auction. Sometimes, the legal pack includes 'special conditions' that mean you might also be liable to pay an additional three per cent fee to a sales agent. Before submitting any bids, always check what sort of price similar properties in the area have sold for. This will, of course, be harder if it is a more unusual property that you are after. If you do bid, do not get carried away and bid more than you can afford. Most properties bought via auction have a 28-day competition date and home loans for auction properties can be harder to get. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Inside 200-year-old abandoned tunnel network discovered under UK village after being ‘LOST' for decades
A 'LOST' tunnel from nearly 200 years ago has been discovered under a UK village. The tunnel has been out of use since the 1960s, but it was recently uncovered in a "fantastic" discovery. 3 3 3 Port Dinorwic Tunnel in North Wales was uncovered by Disused Railway Tunnels UK after a failed attempt last year. The tunnel, built in 1824, was once an integral part of the slate trade. Part of the wider Padarn Railway, the almost 100 yard tunnel connected the quarries at Llanberis to Port Dinowic. Further developments were made in 1843 when a rope-worked incline and a 92 yard tunnel between Port Dinorwic and Penscoins were built. This addition served to transport slate from the quarries to the waterside before it was carried around the UK via boats and trains. It also served as a kind of commuter route for workers before a more formalised service was introduced. The tunnel ceased use in 1861 and was blocked off before being infilled and becoming overgrown. In a trip to the area last year, Vince from Disused Railway Tunnels UK was unable to locate the tunnel. He told North Wales Live: "I couldn't see any evidence of the portal, even the shaft wasn't visible so possibly the tunnel may well be totally lost." The difficulty in finding the tunnel was caused by it having been bricked up until recently which left it "very well hidden from view." Inside 'gateway to underworld' underneath 1,800-year-old city which holds 'toxic' secret that scientists 'can't explain' Vince later returned to the village after the owners of a commercial property at the tunnel's entrance at Port Dinorwic contacted him. Speaking about the successful find, he said: "A massive thank you to Robert for the invitation to visit Port Dinorwic Tunnel and also to Iwan for showing us the way on the day and displaying patience while we mooched about in the tunnel. "What a fantastic day. Vince was shown around by Iwan Rees-Jones who said: "It's a privilege to work in what used to be the vital link for Welsh slate. Vince took photographs of the discovery which was appreciated by locals whose family history is intertwined with the tunnel. Locals either have direct or ancestral links to the tunnel and its trains including the Amalthaea, a steam locomotive that ran on the railway. One resident said: "My husband's great grandfather was one of Amalthaea's drivers. "We have his grandfather's old train tokens also, which he used to get to and from work as a slate splitter and dresser in Dinorwig. "What a stunning set of photographs, a real treat." Another local reminisced on earlier memories with friends when they would follow the disused narrow gauge lines in the 1960s. He said: "There were many tunnels leading into the mines but we never ventued into them.
