Security guards to patrol village at foot of Snowdon besieged by tourists dropping litter and ignoring coronavirus rules

SECURITY guards have been brought in to patrol the village at the foot of Snowdown - as tourists drop litter and ignore coronavirus rules.

Brits on staycations have largely behaved themselves at the hikers hotspot, but some louts have camped illegally, abandoned mounts of rubbish and started fires.

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Locals left exasperated by the damage done have got a security firm to look after the bottom of the 3,560ft mountain.

Following complaints from villagers, who also claimed that social distancing was not observed, Gwynedd council has decided to fight back.

Police, National Park wardens, the National Trust and Natural Resources Wales will also join the effort to curb the trouble and clear up mess.

In a letter to residents posted online Sian Gwenllian, local Plaid Cymru member of the Welsh Senedd, said: “I understand that it is a worrying time for Llanberis residents, and many feel unsafe in their own village."

Llanberis Development Group, an organisation set up to promote the area as a tourist destination and protect the environment, said: "We need our visitors but not all of them have been behaving in a Covid-19 responsible way.”

The “staycation” popularity has provided a late summer boost for businesses hit by the pandemic, but also brought an influx of careless tourists.

Narrow roads have also been clogged up with vehicles parked illegally by mountain walkers.

A number of visitors have returned to find their cars towed away.

MOUNTAIN MAYHEM

The Snowdonia National Park Authority is trialling a pre-booking system at the popular Pen-y-Pass car park, for weekends and bank holidays, during the remainder of the holiday season.

A villager said: "We have never seen anything like it.

"The crowds have been unbelievable, and some completely anti-social and who would be better suited in Magaluf.” 

In July police turned away 60 cars from the bottom of Snowdon after 600 vehicles caused chaos.

Drivers were warned their cars would be towed if they parked illegally and blocked the road in the Welsh national park.

Signs were installed and cones laid out to discourage motorists from leaving the vehicles on the highway.

Snowdonia National Park officially reopened on July 6 after closing at the start of the lockdown in March.

But the chaos around England and Wales' highest peak caused the park to ban parking at Pen-y-Pass at weekends.