Eight motorcyclists from Devon are among the first to be penalised by new ANPR parking cameras at Llyn Tegid in Bala, Eryri. The cameras went live on July 13 as part of efforts to tackle overnight camping at the lake. After making two stops to buy ice cream, the riders learned that fresh parking charges had been introduced. Each now faces two £60 penalties, a combined £960.
While the bikers' frustration is considerable, it is modest compared with the anger of local residents who believe they are being shut out from their own lakeside. A petition has been submitted to Eryri National Park Authority (ENPA) calling for free access to the lake's car parks.
Why the cameras were introduced
The dispute follows chaotic scenes on neighbouring roads in recent summers as Bala contended with excessive tourism. In response, the two car parks at Llyn Tegid were expanded, parking charges were increased and solar-powered automatic number plate recognition cameras were installed.
Parking now costs £5 for up to four hours and £8 for the day, with separate rates for watersports enthusiasts. Blue Badge holders receive double the usual time allocation. Motorcyclists, meanwhile, face a £1 charge for a space they say was previously free.
A Devon visitor's story
A frequent visitor from Torquay described how he and seven friends on motorcycles were caught out. Writing on a community forum, he said he had been visiting Llyn Tegid for many years and stopped twice for ice cream, something he had done for about 10 years. He was unaware of any parking fee for motorcycles in the bay and saw no new signage. After returning home, the fines started arriving. Each rider expects to pay £120 for missing £2 in parking fees.
Other motorists have reported receiving £60 penalties for visits on July 12, a day before the cameras were switched on. They are challenging the charges but are doubtful of success because a private company now oversees the facilities.
Residents' petition and 'local benefit' row
Overnight parking restrictions at nine other Eryri car parks were suspended in June after a public outcry. However, the two Bala sites remain under restrictions as part of a pilot scheme. Locals have now started a petition and a letter-writing campaign calling for improved access, arguing that measures meant to curb litter, disturbance and unauthorised camping have backfired on them.
Residents themselves must now pay higher parking fees and face the risk of penalties. As a gesture described as a 'local benefit', they are granted one hour of free off-peak parking – but only between 2am and 8am or 5.30pm to midnight. 'Nobody's socialising by the lake at 3am,' they said. 'Calling that a benefit isn't generous, it's insulting.'
In a letter to ENPA, petitioner Elin Pritchard said: 'That's not a meaningful concession for anyone trying to visit after work, at the weekend, or with children, it's a token window designed to let you say one exists.' The petition argues that Llyn Tegid and its car parks have 'belonged to this community for generations' and calls for unrestricted 24-hour access, adding: 'This lake is where this community meets, not a place we should have to pay to stand in.'
Pritchard went on to say: 'We are constantly told, by government, by health bodies, by the outdoor sector itself, that people, and especially children, need more time outdoors, not less. A charge like this does not encourage that. It quietly discourages it, and it does so most for the people who already have the least room in their budget to absorb it.'
She also raised concerns about the scheme's enforcement: 'This scheme is being managed on the authority's behalf by Initial Parking, a private company. Whatever the safeguards, the practical effect for residents is that access to a public lake is now gated by a private firm whose income depends on charges and penalty notices being issued.' She added that the change 'deserved real consultation with residents and community councils before it began, not after.'
The petition attracted 534 signatures in six days, more than a quarter of Bala's residents. One supporter called it 'awful that people are being pushed away from beautiful natural spaces.'
ENPA response
Responding to Pritchard's correspondence, Bethan Wyn Hughes, ENPA's director of corporate services, confirmed the pilot would continue until the end of the October half-term. The ANPR system would then stay in place, though modifications could be made. She said: 'The purpose of the pilot is to gather evidence of the effectiveness of ANPR of dealing with both overnight camping and general non-payment of parking fees.'
Hughes added that findings from the pilot, including operational ANPR data, resident feedback, community council views and other relevant information, would be evaluated as part of the overall review and would help inform future decisions. 'It would be premature at this stage to speculate on what conclusions may be reached or what changes, if any, may result from that process.'
ENPA explained that the pilot was introduced to manage its car parks more efficiently and ensure that appropriate parking charges are collected. The new measures are also expected to 'improve the visitor experience' while supporting the upkeep of the sites. Both car parks now close between 12am and 2am daily to prevent overnight parking.
