Renewed Calls for Conversion

It was largely ridiculed by those who don't support it and as usual those who do keep quiet... but is the conversion of the AONB to full national park status really such a bad idea? 

Gavin Harris was on Newyddion S4C yesterday evening. He was speaking as an hotel proprietor and therefore in any unofficial capacity. The piece was in response to the Welsh Labour manifesto commitment to upgrade the AONB to national park status. In 2011 and again in 2012, Conservative Darren Millar also supported the idea. Is this a rare case of political unanimity?

Harris too was in support of the upgrade—provided that the benefits were spread evenly across the entire area. This, of course, includes Rhuthun/Ruthin. Take a look at the pre-virus footfall in town and you'll appreciate that Rhuthun needs more visitors. I mean, it *really* needs them.

Traffic to and from Moel Fammau results in a traffic management plan for the AONB. Does that traffic continue to Rhuthun? No

But, as Shakespeare said, there's the rub. 70 per cent of those who frequent the AONB are day visitors from Merseyside. Few manage to vault Offa's Dyke and descend into the Vale itself. Persuading them to reach Rhuthun is almost impossible. They may have travelled 40 miles but the additional seven is like falling off the face of the world.

Currently, only about three per cent of Moel Famau visitors spend money in Rhuthun.

Could upgrading the AONB to a national park help in encouraging or convert day to staying visitors? It's certainly worth a try. It would raise the area's profile and potentially widen its catchment. We might find that rather than by-passing the area via the A55, more might actually come and, dare we say, stay. Staying means finding accommodation locally and injecting cash. Upping the profile might also result in Llangollen visitors being more willing to seep north. 

On the other hand, land owners are cautious or worse. They fear increased visitor numbers on country lanes and more red tape. But farmers will try to veto anything. They resisted the 2011 extension of the AONB into the Dee Valley, something now considered a success. 

Huw Williams of Rhesgoed called the national park plan 'bonkers' and said 'this is not a play area'. Hang on, though. Moel Famau gets between 200,000 and 400,000 visitors a year during 'ordinary' times (depending upon source). If they're not playing (and exercising) then what exactly are they doing? We need to remember the impact of tourism on the Welsh and local economy.

Do we and farmers really have anything to fear? Yes and no. The difference between an AONB and a national park is a fine one. In terms of the landscape, both are actually of equal importance and status when it comes to planning decisions on the landscape. The main difference, however, is that an AONB exists to conserve and enhance its natural beauty. National Parks, in addition, promote understanding and enjoyment of the area's special qualities. To do so, they have their own independent authorities with full planning powers and these, it is said, are democratically unaccountable. 

Currently, though, it's largely coastal politicians who make decisions in and around the AONB...

And, talking of S4C, today Garddio a Mwy in part featured the Lord's Garden. There, the camera focused on a creative floral design said to represent the garden itself, as is usual. The snag was that in doing so, the protagonist was plucking flowers from the site itself when, really, they'd be better left where they were for all to enjoy...