Fears over rogue parking by sunrise-chasers at national park after overnight ban

Fears over rogue parking by sunrise-chasers at national park after overnight ban2 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLeigh Boobyer,BBC WalesandRob Thomas,Betws-y-CoedGetty ImagesThousands visit the national park every year, with many beginning a hike to its highest peak - Yr Wyddfa or Snowdon - to catch the sunriseAn overnight parking clampdown aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour at a beauty spot where people hike to catch the sunrise will not solve the problem, locals say.Eryri National Park Authority (ENPA) has restricted overnight parking at 11 of its car parks since 1 April, which it said was "necessary to address increasing issues linked to overnight stays".Nearly four million people visit Eryri National Park, also known as Snowdonia, each year. Many begin the hike up to its highest peak - Yr Wyddfa - during the early hours of the morning to reach the top by sunrise.But some fear the ban could encourage parking in residential streets, while one local guide fears an impact on her business.The ENPA said the changes were made "to address increasing issues linked to overnight stays, particularly unauthorised campervans".It said there had been a rise in "informal camping" in some locations which had led to "littering and other environmental pressures as well as anti-social behaviour".It said the measures followed "three years of monitoring" and had been "strategically introduced in specific locations where pressures have been greatest".It pointed out that some car parks across Eryri remained available 24 hours a day.Parking in Betws-y-Coed long-stay car park between 22:00 and 03:00 is now bannedThe long-stay car park at Betws-y-Coed, a small village in Conwy which is a popular starting off point for people visiting Eryri, is on the list of those where overnight parking is now banned.Ian Young, who lives near the car park on a road where there are no parking restrictions, said a minority of overn...