Latest news with #ResourcesWales
BBC News
02-05-2025
- BBC News
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."
BBC News
04-04-2025
- BBC News
TikTok visitor surge prompts Hafren Forest litter concerns
A Welsh forest that has gone viral on social media has been inundated with tourists leading to concerns about littering and and Instagram videos of Hafren Forest, near Llanidloes, Powys, some seen by millions of people, have prompted a surge of visitors in recent the forest's sudden popularity has angered some locals who feel it is having a negative impact on the Resources Wales (NRW) said it had "intentionally refrained from promoting the site" to discourage excessive interest. Councillor Glyn Preston told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast he wants to see people "enjoying the beauties of mid Wales", but said agencies need to take better care of the Forest was previously shortlisted for Britain's favourite path but has recently found fame with its towering trees and riverside boardwalk. One social media video attracted 1.8 million views but locals are concerned that fly-tipping, littering and parking has become an issue."You're seeing a car every two minutes going down a single track road," said Mr Preston."It's becoming gridlocked at various different choke points."He said better facilities were needed, including bins and well-maintained are temporary toilets in place which are set to be replaced with permanent facilities in future. Mr Preston said local businesses were benefitting from the extra visitors as the "town is busier" and people are "spending their money"."But that being said, we've got this sort of honey pot that's being ruined with dog mess being left on the side of the roads, fly tipping and so on," he added."We don't have a Starbucks in Llanidloes, we've got lots of independent coffee shops and somehow there's Starbucks coffee mugs all along the side of the road."The councillor said NRW needed to provide more than just "advice" to tackle this said: "We need some bins, we need some proper facilities there. We need to make sure that the toilets are well maintained and cleaned regularly."He added that a partnership with Powys council would allow them to "put in the necessary infrastructure to make it a better site." NRW said it had encouraged people to "consider other fantastic places" in mid Wales to help avoid visiting Hafren Forest NRW has advised people to "bring a bag and take all rubbish and food waste home, using public bins or recycling where possible"."When parking, ensure you do not block access to gateways or driveways, and always leave space for emergency vehicles," it added.
BBC News
29-01-2025
- General
- BBC News
Farms' Natural Resources Wales sheep dip disposal ban for rivers
Welsh farmers are to be banned from disposing of waste sheep dip on their land, over concerns the liquid chemical treatment is polluting Resources Wales (NRW) said it had measured increased levels of diazinon - a chemical which is highly toxic to aquatic life - accumulating in intends to phase out the decades-old practice of allowing farms to spread diluted waste dip to land, and will stop issuing new farming union NFU Cymru said it was "shocked" and "extremely disappointed" by the decision, calling for it to be overturned Sheep dip is a chemical solution used to treat sheep for parasites and skin sheep dipping is "important to safeguard livestock," NRW said changes were needed to disposal of the leftover allowing farmers to spread it on their land will no longer be will now be required to employ a registered waste carrier to dispose of their waste dip "in a suitable waste facility," NRW with an active permit will be allowed to carry on spreading on land "for the time being," though "eventually all waste dip will need to be disposed of this way," the regulator added. NFU Cymru livestock board chairman Rob Lewis said the union was "shocked that NRW has taken this decision with immediate effect and without consideration of the wider impacts.""The practice of sheep dipping in Wales is integral to maintain the high flock health status of the Welsh flock," he added."The decision has implications for animal health and welfare, the ongoing management of key habitats and disadvantages young farmers and new entrants to the sheep sector."He said the union believed there was "no scientific case to prevent disposal on land," pointing out that "new applications for permits are still available elsewhere in the UK"."We have written to NRW today and called for the decision to be reversed."The union's rural affairs board chairman Hedd Pugh said Wales was "nowhere near getting a workable spent dip disposal scheme" up and running."There are issues around actual collection and storage but more importantly, the end point and the uneconomic cost of incineration of spent dip," he said. Nadia De Longhi of NRW said it was "constantly working to balance the needs of working farms with our duties to safeguard the environment"."Disposing of sheep dip to land has been done for more than 30 years but we've noticed a negative effect accumulating in our rivers that is causing us to fail to meet the standards required to protect the water environment," she said."This is why we've decided to phase out the practice as there are now better alternatives available."NRW is encouraging farmers to surrender permits they no longer need, and has removed a £363 charge for doing so.
