Wild Land News no 70, Autumn 2007

Wild Wales Letter

Dear Sir,

I read with interest the article by David Jarman in the summer issue of Wild Land News in the form of "an open letter to the National Park Authority". Sensational title but does the article hold up to scrutiny?

Your readers may be interested to know that the Park was designated in 1951 and within its boundaries 26,000 people live. Many of the residents depend on the Park for their livelihood. The tourism industry is a major employer not surprising considering that over 10 million visitor nights are spent in the Park each year. The Authority was established in 1996. We employ less than 190 staff and manage a fair chunk of Wales on a budget of less than £10 million. Our powers and purposes are limited and prescribed in the 1995 Environment Act. We have two statutory purposes - conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and promoting opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Park by the public. We also have a duty to `seek to foster the social and economic well being of the local communities'. What is often overlooked is that Section 62 of the Act requires all relevant authorities to have regard to the statutory purposes when carrying out development in the Park.

Let me now turn to the article. We don't have the draconian powers that David seems to think we have. The vast majority of the land in Snowdonia is in private ownership and getting things done requires cooperation and partnership working. The article paints a rather one sided and grim picture - a grand tour of the black spots. Yes it is true that some of the developments we have inherited from the past are an eyesore and they would not normally be approved today. However, as much as we would like we cannot undo the past, not overnight anyway. The large forest plantations referred to were planted many years ago, before the Park was designated. These days we work closely with the Forestry Commission and the felling and re-planting programmes are much more in-keeping with the natural landscape. However, some mature and established plantations on sensitive skylines and valley sides remain. I agree with David, the main national power transmission lines are an eyesore, the result of having two nuclear power stations in North West Wales to serve the energy needs of the UK i.e. the national interest. We recognise that some of the other long established power lines are also incongruous and we are currently actively working with the main network operator to underground some of the most visually intrusive lines. Invasive weeds like the rhododendron and others are a massive problem. The Authority currently operates an ambitious rhododendron control scheme. However, the task and the cost of managing and controlling the spread of these weeds is way beyond our meagre resources. The bike tracks are a more recent and growing problem in certain areas. Some may be lawful, but we are working with the local police and the Countryside Council for Wales to ensure that unlawful incursions by off roaders are stopped.

So let's not hammer the National Parks and the Authorities that are responsible for their well being. Yes, there is a debate to be had about "wilderness" and the role of relevant authorities in looking after Parks, but National Parks in the UK are not museum pieces. These special living landscapes will continue to evolve and the Park Authorities will continue to work hard with the limited powers and resources at their disposal to ensure that their special qualities are conserved and enhanced for the benefit of future generations.

Aneurin Phillips
Chief Executive,
Snowdonia National Park Authority