Campervan hogs four spaces at popular Welsh lake sparking fury

Overnight parking in one of Wales' most iconic beauty spots is again at the centre of a row involving campervans. Overnight parking is banned at the spot by Llyn Padarn in Llanberis, which lies in the shadow of Yr Wyddfa's, but the order is frequently ignored. Over the weekend, spaces were in short supply as motorhomes and campervans packed into a barrier-free car park at Y Glyn, an area referred to as the "Lagoons". Eyebrows were raised when one campervan stretched an awning across four bays and, contrary to fire-safety guidance, brought out a barbecue and fire pit. Always keep on top of the latest Welsh news with our newsletter Local have raised concerns about rubbish and disturbance, while visitors have found themselves circling the car park searching for spaces. One local described the site as "un-policed" and cautioned that tensions were mounting between campers and the community. The scenic location offers stunning views across the lake and serves as a popular launching point for swimmers and watersports enthusiasts. Three years ago, its three parking zones were resurfaced to accommodate 114 parking bays. A separate aires-style "Arosfan" facility was later created for campervans, reports North Wales Live . While Parc Padarn wardens occasionally patrol the vicinity, unauthorised parking is considered low risk during weekends and evenings. "Y Glyn has been shambolic since the Arosfan site was set up," remarked a resident online. "It has been a nightmare for us locals. Everyone does as they want - there is no order. It's easy to put signs up with all the regulations - but if nobody monitors the site, as is currently the case, it's just a waste of money." Illegal long-term parking has also become commonplace on Y Glyn's access road, which during summer is frequently lined with motorhomes and campervans. To tackle this issue, new Cyngor Gwynedd Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) took effect on this road, and others, on Monday, July 27. While these initiatives have been received positively, a local resident reported the car parks continue to operate without proper control. Upon visiting Y Glyn at the weekend, he discovered all eight spaces were taken at the site's dedicated Arosfan facility, which costs £16.50 per night for maximum stays of 48 hours. Dozens more campervans occupied the neighbouring car park in breach of site regulations, he said. "To be fair, the majority were occupying just a single space, but two weren't. "Of these two, one had foreign registered plates. The other was UK registered and this took up four spaces: it had an awning slung to another car as well as a roof tent, BBQ and deck chairs, depriving three others of space. It was hugely disrespectful. "As parking payments can be made online, there's no way of knowing how many paid for their spaces. Perhaps some did. But the whole thing is a bloody joke. The campervans shouldn't be parked there anyway. "As the site is off the highway, it can be patrolled by traffic wardens. And there are no local byelaws covering the site, fines can't be enforced by park wardens. Neither are there any cameras at the car parks." Maximum stays of eight hours only are allowed, at a cost of £6. Parking operates between 6am and 8pm, with those staying overnight required to use the on-site Arosfan facility. Here, users have access to toilets, fresh water and grey water disposal. Daytime car park visitors can use Y Glyn's toilet block – but this shuts at night. "No one is going to pack up their holiday and leave in the middle of the night looking for toilets," Mr Horrigan said. "Not all campervans have a toilet on board, so you can imagine where they go during the night. "With the school holidays now upon us, and more people heading here, the amount of disrespect is causing a lot of local friction. When I wandered through the site last Friday evening, I counted eight disposable BBQs at the side of the lake. "Most had been lit on rocks but with wildfires raging across the region, it was a pretty stupid thing to do." Cyngor Gwynedd said monitoring and enforcement of parking, both on and off-street, falls under Cyngor Gwynedd's Civil Parking Enforcement Scheme (CPE). The council said this is undertaken by a "small but dedicated team of parking officers". Parking arrangements at Y Glyn have undergone several reviews and modifications in recent years, covering both off-street and on-street provision. The council confirmed that further adjustments to on-street parking will be implemented in the near future. A spokesperson said: "In terms of motorhomes and campervans, unless there are specific restrictions in place related to them, they have the same rights to park as other vehicles. "The parking arrangements and restrictions in place are reviewed in response to the experience and expectations of all users. Where there is high demand for parking spaces, a fair and reasonable compromise is sought. "Cyngor Gwynedd encourages motorists to park responsibly, to be respectful of others and to comply with parking rules, so that everybody can enjoy what Gwynedd has to offer safely."