New Welsh national park plan runs into opposition

Plans for a new national park in Wales have run into opposition from the council which covers the nation's largest county.

Powys councillors have rejected the creation of the park, which would largely be in north-east Wales, but also partly in their area.

One cabinet member of the Liberal Democrat-led authority said there had been a "complete failure" to explain its benefits, and called that "a major problem".

The Welsh government has said that national parks are important for the environment and achieve more sustainable tourism.

The Welsh government has asked Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to investigate setting up a national park based around the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Parts of Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Wrexham would also be in the park.

The process is currently in the "gathering evidence" stage, with the plans firmed up in 2024 before possible implementation by 2026.

Plaid Cymru councillor Elwyn Vaughan told a meeting that another national park - which would be run by a new authority - would cost about £4m annually, and put further pressure on public finances.

Mr Vaughan said national park status "makes no difference to biodiversity" and he doubted it would help tackle transport problems.

He used to live in Eryri National Park, also known as Snowdonia, and said: "Some think it would be an opportunity to stop pylons – yet when I lived in Penrhyndeudraeth I could see nine pylons from the front of the house coming from the direction of Trawsfynydd nuclear power station."

Pete Roberts, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for learning, asked: "Do we really want to abdicate our planning to a committee of members nominated by [a Welsh government] minister or represent an area miles away?"

Conservative Pete Lewis, who represents the market town of Llanfyllin, said: "It could be beneficial.

"Every business needs more footfall so the businesses are very supportive in Llanfyllin although I’m very concerned about the rural area.

"We have to look at both sides."

Liberal Democrat Gareth Ratcliffe, who has served as chairman of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, said the authority had seen a 37% real term cut in funding since 2010.

"I’m in favour of the principle but first of all the Welsh government needs to support the national parks that are already here."

Liberal Democrat cabinet member for a safer Powys, Richard Church, who attended some online meetings about the plan, said: "There was a complete failure to explain to people what the benefits of the creation national park are and that is a major problem."

In a vote, 34 councillors voted in favour of the motion opposing the park, four were against and 16 abstained.

When the plan was announced in November, the Welsh government said national parks brought "many advantages, protecting our finest landscapes, and supporting the environment and communities, with work on plans for a new one progressing well with Natural Resources Wales".