A hill to die on

One of our local SSI's in under threat from developers who want to cut down most of the trees that are home to endangered Red Squirrels and full of lots of other wildlife. They want to build a holiday park with a load of lodges, gym, sauna, poll and restaurant, they very kindly say that local swill be able to use these facilities without having to stay at the park, most locals kindly say words with lots of FF's to the developers. Not only will this development destroy a local amneity thats also a big draw with tourists wanting to watch the wildlife, but there's been no thought for local infrastructure. Our roads are already at breaking point, and with the port at Holyhead becoming a freeport roads will be overwhelmed. What about water and sewerage, waste and the quality of life for those who already live here? The people behind this always say it will bring jobs, but what kind of jobs? Will they be proper, well paid and permanent jobs, or will they be seasonal, zero-hours and minimum wage? We have plenty of those already and local people are already priced out, we have problems attracting workers anyway for the existing businesses serving the tourism industry.

Like many local people I intend to protest if they get to the stage of chopping trees down, I know we probably won't stop it, that we will end up arrested, and all that goes with it, we may end up physically injured too. But this sort of thing has to stop, this is my hill and choose to die on it.

Parents
  • I saw a news article about Penrhos, I'm guessing?

    It feels like the area generally is busier these days, i guess that's good for some businesses, but must put a strain on local people. As a tourist myself it sounds odd to say I don't like tourists, they don't respect the people or the places they visit and it's sad to see them spoilt by the influx.

    I don't see the need to build these holiday developments in areas of SSI, it shouldn't be allowed. They should be protecting them and allowing respectful visits rather than profiteering.

    I hope you're successful in stopping it and raising awareness.

  • Yes it is Penrhos and yes tourism does put a strain on local people, we get really fed up of being told that English people don't have to follow Welsh laws because they're English and the laws only apply to the Welsh. We get fed up of being treated like second class citizens who exist only to serve the tourist industry, we get fed up with the litter, the badly behaved dogs and children and as for the adults, well many need locking up!

    The port at Holyhead will reopen in part over the next few days, so there will be another build up of traffic, the Gods alone know what will happen when it becomes a freeport and the traffic increases. There isn't the physical space to improve the roads and other infrastructure, Holyhead is a narrow strip of land surrounded by hills made up of slate, the whole of Anglesey is an outcrop of the Eyrie mountains, short of blowing half of it up I don't know what they can actually do.

  • It's sad to see such a lovely island being swamped by tourists that don't respect it and the people who live there. 

    Hopefully things won't get worse, but I think they need to stop any more developments or over time it will only have a negative effect, slowly chipping away at the place.

    I've got so many fond memories of Anglesey, from the first time I went there as a kid to all the times since, finding a nice quiet spot away from anyone and enjoying the peace. I hope it doesn't get ruined.

Reply
  • It's sad to see such a lovely island being swamped by tourists that don't respect it and the people who live there. 

    Hopefully things won't get worse, but I think they need to stop any more developments or over time it will only have a negative effect, slowly chipping away at the place.

    I've got so many fond memories of Anglesey, from the first time I went there as a kid to all the times since, finding a nice quiet spot away from anyone and enjoying the peace. I hope it doesn't get ruined.

Children
No Data