Outdoor fans heading to Pen y Fan should consider alternative start points. Photo: Herby CC-BY-SA-3.0
Police are warning visitors to south Wales’s highest peak to expect the main parking area to be especially busy.
Dyfed-Powys Police urged anyone considering an ascent of Pen y Fan to consider alternative starting points to the popular Storey Arms route.
Officers said numerous events are taking place over the weekend, which will use the Pont ar Daf car park and the Storey Arms Centre and car park.
Roads policing officers will be patrolling the Storey Arms area, which is expected to be particularly busy, to ensure parking rules around the A470 clearway are upheld. They will also be conducting Operation Darwen, a regular campaign aimed at reducing casualties on the roads.
Sergeant Owen Dillon nof the roads policing unit said: “I anticipate a very busy period on the local roads this weekend and particularly in the area of Storey Arms.
“In addition to the large number of visitors I expect to walk up Pen y Fan there are several events taking place, all bringing extra parking to the area.
“There are a number of alternative places to park your vehicles if visiting the Brecon Beacons, which still have good routes to Pen y Fan. I would urge anyone planning on visiting to consider parking at locations including Cwm Gwydi, the Neuadd Valley or Craig Cerrig Gleisiad Nature Reserve.
“We will be continuing with police patrols of the Storey Arms area this weekend and will take action where it is required. Our priority is ensuring there are no obstructions on the A470 and that people observe the clearway and do not park on the road.”
Chief Inspector Matt Scrase added: “We appreciate that the beautiful Brecon Beacons draw in thousands of walkers over the summer months, and we encourage visitors to come and enjoy the region.
“We just ask that they do so safely, taking into consideration their own needs, that of other walkers, and other road users who also want to come and enjoy what Dyfed-Powys has to offer.”
Alan Ward - International Mountain Leader
17 June 2017Having seen the way some major commercial events dominate the area I think it is these events who should be encouraged to find parking elsewhere and not the general public.
I'm aware of how much money some of these events generate for the organisations concerned which are not always charity related.
Charity events should obviously have priority for parking with adequate signage notifying the general public of these in advance.
Mike Wilson
17 June 2017I agree Alan, considering the proportion of profits that the commercial event organisers skim off before anything goes to the charity, they should be more responsible.
Every year we see the results of these charity events on the National 3 Peaks, Yorkshire 3 Peaks and Ben Nevis, where the trail of plastic bottles and banana skins littering the route is left for the National Parks to deal with.
These commercial organisers bring such chaos to these beautiful spots and then walk away leaving others with the cost of clearing up.
kc
17 June 2017Couldn't agree more - surely it's time for a small proportion of profits to be donated to the national parks?
Vic
17 June 2017I agree with some of the money going to the National Trust who own and conserve the Central Beacons.
Interestingly one recent large event was encouraging participants to park in Brecon and Cardiff and the providing buses to Pont ar Daf. All large events should do this.