New ANPR cameras will shortly go live at two Eryri car parks that have become increasingly overwhelmed by visitors. Last summer scores of cars and campervans began parking illegally on local roads when the Llyn Tegid facilities at Bala reached bursting point.
Residential driveways were blocked on the lake’s Llangower shoreline and local farmers struggled to reach their fields. To free up the narrow B4403, and get traffic moving, North Wales Police and national park wardens began towing vehicles.
In 2024 the road was designated a Clearway, prohibiting stopping except for emergency vehicles. But this failed to stop visitors parking “dangerously and inconsiderately”.
The resulting scenes were described by locals as “chaos”. It prompted calls for greater enforcement as well as the provision of expanded parking facilities. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Eryri National Park Authority (ENPA) was already working on plans to increase parking capacity, enhance security and upgrade toilet facilities at the two lakeside car parks. Last summer the upgrades were green-lighted and a spokesperson said new ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras will now go live “imminently”.
These will be at both the Llangower car park on Llyn Tegid’s east shore, and at the main parking site on the north shore near Bala town. Initially the solar-powered cameras will be operated on a trial basis.
An ENPA spokesperson said: “The system is intended to operate as a pilot scheme during the upcoming summer season, allowing us to better understand usage patterns and inform future management decisions and monitor any impact on our communities.”
Vehicles being removed from the B4403 on the lake’s Llangower shoreline last summer
New entrance gates will also be installed at both facilities. Like nine other ENPA car parks, permitted parking hours have been altered at the two sites to prevent overnight parking. Llyn Tegid’s car parks have the strictest curbs, being closed between 10pm and 6am.
The restrictions followed concerns that motorhomes, campervans and overnighting cars were using the car parks as illicit stopovers. Residents complained of growing issues with litter, BBQs and night-time disturbances.
There are concerns the nightly crackdowns might displace the problem to nearby roads and, at Llyn Tegid, the B4403 in particular. Tow truck signs have been placed at both ends of the road to discourage parking here at any time of the day.
Eryri National Park’s Llangower car park before its recent upgrade(Image: Google)
At the Llangower car park, existing toilets have also been upgraded. Marked parking bays have been provided, upping capacity to 92 cars from around 60.
To curb anti-social behaviour, CCTV cameras have also been installed at the north shore car park. The site’s warden centre has also been insulated, cladded and equipped with solar panels.
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