Battle rages over 185-homes set for 'Boris' project

CYNGOR Gwynedd is to formally object to proposals to include a tiny part of the county in a new national park planned in northeast Wales.

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE

Councillors fear the project will add cost, compromise the Welsh language and could spark over-tourism.

Cllr Craig ab Iago, the council's Cabinet Member for Environment, likened the concept to a “Boris Johnson project”.

With Welsh Government struggling in the polls, he said the idea was like “creating new furniture for the Titanic” while the ship was floundering.

Of the five local authorities impacted by the planned creation of Glyndwr National Park, Powys has the most land within its boundaries and Gwynedd has the least.

Its contribution amounts to about 4.3sq miles, just over 1% of the park's total area.

Only one Gwynedd settlement would be included, the sparsely populated village of Llandderfel.

With just 185 houses, the area's population is estimated at 528, most of whom speak Welsh on a daily basis.

Cyngor Gwynedd worries Llandderfel’s inclusion in a new planning authority with an English language focus risks having a “negative impact” on Welsh speakers.

Other affected counties are Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Powys.