Eight motorcyclists from Devon have become among the first to be caught out by new ANPR parking cameras at Llyn Tegid, Bala, and each now faces two £60 penalties after stopping twice to buy ice cream. The combined bill for the group comes to £960.
The cameras were switched on July 13 in a bid to tackle overnight camping, and the bikers only later discovered that parking charges had been brought in. Their frustration is matched by local residents, who believe they are being shut out from their own lake. A petition has been submitted to Eryri National Park Authority (ENPA) calling for free access to the lake's car parks.
Over-tourism prompts parking changes
The changes follow chaotic scenes on local roads during recent summers as Bala, like many places in Wales, struggles with over-tourism. Capacity was increased at Llyn Tegid's two car parks, charges were raised and solar-powered ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras were installed. Parking now costs £5 for up to four hours, with a daily charge of £8. Different tariffs apply for watersports users, while Blue Badge holders receive double the standard time allowance.
Motorcyclists are now charged £1 to park in a space they say was previously free. A regular visitor from Torquay, in Devon, described how he brought seven friends to the area and stopped twice to buy ice cream, as he had done for almost ten years. On a local message board, he wrote: "I've been visiting Llyn Tegid for many years from my home in Devon. This year I brought seven friends with me on motorcycles to introduce them to this beautiful area. We stopped here twice to buy an ice-cream from the lovely lady in the ice cream van – this is something I've been doing for getting on for 10 years."
He continued: "In that time I have never been aware of a parking fee for motorcycles in the bay just as you enter. Now we have been home for a week we have started to receive the fines. As we visited twice, we are all expecting £120 each in fines ....for apparently missing £2 in parking fees!"
"None of us remembers seeing any new signage in that motorcycle area. We would of course have paid the measly £1 charge if we had been made aware of it. Sadly, it has put a bitter taste in our mouths after visiting your beautiful countryside."
Other drivers have also reported receiving £60 penalties after visiting on July 12, the day before the ANPR cameras were switched on. They are challenging the fines but remain doubtful about their prospects given that a private operator now runs the car parks.
Locals call parking charges a slap in the face
Overnight parking restrictions at nine other Eryri car parks were suspended in June following public opposition, but were maintained at the two Bala facilities as part of a "pilot scheme". Bala residents have started a petition and letter-writing campaign. Many had pushed for stricter controls because of litter, noise and illegal camping, but the changes are now troubling them too.
Locals must pay increased parking fees and, potentially, severe fines. A concession — described as a "local benefit" — allows a free hour of off-peak parking, but only between 2am and 8am or 5.30pm and midnight. "Nobody's socialising by the lake at 3am," they complained. "Calling that a benefit isn't generous, it's insulting."
Petitioner Elin Pritchard wrote to ENPA: "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 Llyn Tegid and its two car parks have "belonged to this community for generations" and calls for free 24-hour access: "This lake is where this community meets, not a place we should have to pay to stand in."
Private enforcement under fire
Elin also raised concerns about enforcement. She stated: "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."
On the private company running the scheme, she said: "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. That is a significant change to how this land is used, and it deserved real consultation with residents and community councils before it began, not after."
Within six days the petition had 534 signatures, more than a quarter of the town's population. One supporter said it was "awful that people are being pushed away from beautiful natural spaces".
ENPA says pilot will continue
Responding to Elin's letter, 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 remain in place, but modifications could be made. She added: "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." Findings, including operational ANPR data, resident feedback and community council views, will be evaluated as part of the overall review, and it would be premature to speculate on what conclusions may be reached.
ENPA said the pilot was introduced to help manage its car parks more efficiently and ensure the correct parking charges are paid, with hopes of improving the visitor experience and contributing to ongoing upkeep. Both car parks are now shut between 12am and 2am every day to tackle overnight parking.
