{"id":519243,"date":"2025-10-22T09:10:23","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T09:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/519243\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T09:10:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T09:10:23","slug":"britains-next-national-park-could-be-in-a-little-known-part-of-wales-but-locals-arent-happy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/519243\/","title":{"rendered":"Britain’s next national park could be in a little-known part of Wales – but locals aren’t happy"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ALESIA FIDDLER – TRAVEL REPORTER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 05:04 EDT, 17 October 2025 | Updated: 05:04 EDT, 17 October 2025 <\/p>\n

Located in north-east Wales, Glynd\u0175r is Britain’s proposed next national park, however some locals aren’t too happy about it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Glynd\u0175r National Park could stretch from\u00a0Prestatyn to northern Powys and is currently undergoing the consultation process.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The proposed area is home to Britain’s highest waterfall,\u00a0Pistyll Rhaeadr, and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.<\/p>\n

There is even a Grade I castle in the suggested spot – Chirk Castle.<\/p>\n

But it might not be a smooth approval, as residents are split on whether they want their local area to be a national park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Surveys from 2023 and 2024 show a split in opinions, and the most recent one resulted in a 10 per cent majority supporting the plans, The Telegraph<\/a> reports.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tearoom owner\u00a0Phill Facey raised concerns over dealing with overtourism and how busy the area can get.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He told the publication: ‘There are weekends where it is so busy. You come here on a Saturday and there’s nowhere to park. Imagine double that number.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Glynd\u0175r <\/p>\n

Glynd\u0175r National Park could stretch from Prestatyn to northern Powys and is currently undergoing the consultation process<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The proposed area is home to Britain’s highest waterfall, Pistyll Rhaeadr, and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct<\/p>\n

‘During lockdown, the road was gridlocked for more than four days.’<\/p>\n

Plaid Cymru councillor Elwyn Vaughan notes that some 20 per cent of Wales is already national park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He argued: ‘Before you know it, Wales will be one big national park. Is that what we want Wales to be? A play area for people to come away? Some of us will say not.’<\/p>\n

The local also pointed out concerns of ‘townies’ gaining an unrealistic, ‘romantic notion’ of what a rural area is.<\/p>\n

Elwyn emphasised there are issues like sustaining biodiversity in the area that are important to focus on, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a different interview, he told the BBC<\/a> how he worried national park status would cause ‘increased pressure on communities’.<\/p>\n

He added that issues like it possibly impacting house prices were also raised since the proposals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, others have been more positive about the area becoming a national park, including\u00a0Ash Pearce from Natural Resources Wales (NRW).<\/p>\n

\"Tearoom <\/p>\n

Tearoom owner Phill Facey raised concerns over dealing with overtourism and how busy the area can get<\/p>\n

He told the BBC:\u00a0‘We know change can be difficult but, with the right approach, a new national park could bring real benefits for people, wildlife and the local economy.<\/p>\n

‘This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect nature, support communities, and shape a better future for this stunning part of Wales.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

Martin Murray, who is a member of the Dee Valley Environmental Network, explained how he thought tourism would ‘benefit’ the area.<\/p>\n

He shared how his village has no primary school or pub and that the residents were ‘very upset’.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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