New ANPR parking cams to tackle 'lawlessness' at beach and forest

A NEW barrierless parking system is to be introduced at a famous Anglesey beach to curb soaring levels of illegal camping.

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

A forest behind Traeth Llanddwyn is said to be at “significant” risk from camp fires and illicit barbecues.

Wardens patrolling the area do their best to move on groups of wild campers despite “abuse and threats”. BBQs are banned in the area but a fire broke out in Newborough forest last week when campers set light to bone-dry pine needles.

The 2,500-acre forest is part of a National Reserve and there are concerns a major fire would devastate local wildlife, including red squirrels.

Residents in the nearby village of Newborough claim the forest has become “lawless” and worry a runaway blaze would threaten nearby homes.

In May, brutal new parking charges were introduced at the reserve, popularised on social media after gaining fame from the TV series House of the Dragon.

This was designed to curb visitor numbers and so bring relief to a village often brought to a standstill by vehicles queuing to reach the sandy beach and its iconic island.

Now site manager Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is planning to install a new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) parking system later this year.

It will operate in a similar fashion to the pay-later barrierless arrangements at Mersey Gateway Bridge and Manchester Airport.

This way, NRW will be able to identify vehicles parking up overnight and so allow the environment body to clamp down on wild camping. A barrier will be retained along the exit road - not for payments but to control traffic flows through the village.