Police turn 60 cars away from Snowdon by 8am as beauty spot influx continues

  • london
  • July 25, 2020
  • Comments Off on Police turn 60 cars away from Snowdon by 8am as beauty spot influx continues
Police turn 60 cars away from Snowdon by 8am as beauty spot influx continues thumbnail

The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday – Friday plus breaking news updates

Police in Wales said they aren’t “bluffing” as they urged motorists to stop overcrowding beauty spots.

Some 60 cars were turned away from near the base of Mount Snowdon by 8am on Saturday, North Wales Police (NWP) said.

It followed mayhem last weekend when 180 penalty fines were issued in the area.

Authorities have repeatedly warned visitors against flocking to tourist hotspots, saying littering, dangerous parking and a failure to respect social distancing measures are putting lives at risk.

NWP tweeted early on Saturday: “Around 60 vehicles have already been turned away from #PenyPass this morning with some even parking by the signage.

“Drivers said they thought we were ‘just bluffing’ when we said cars would be towed if obstructing the road…a recovery vehicle is already parked up there.”

Meanwhile, a message from the country’s ambulance service pleaded with the public not to obstruct roads.

They tweeted: “If you are heading out to enjoy welsh beauty spots this weekend, please plan ahead.

“Remember to park responsibly, legally and safely to avoid any disruption to emergency services who require access 24/7.”

Over in England, various tourist hot spots including the Peak District and the Lake District have seen a surge in the number of people parking at beauty spots overnight without permission since lockdown was eased on July 4.

In West Cornwall, 140 camper vans were turned away from 10 small remote sites over a week-long period – doubling or tripling what was normally expected, according to the National Trust.

The charity said that its ranger teams are now spending a fifth of their time clearing up after visitors rather than on conservation work.