Welsh Government shelves Glyndŵr National Park plans

The Welsh Government has provisionally decided to shelve plans for the creation of the Glyndŵr National Park. Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution, Dafydd Trystan Davies, informed the Senedd that he does not intend to confirm the designation order or proceed with a promised public local inquiry at this stage.

Davies cited the high cost of establishment, estimated to exceed £11 million, and noted that the proposal had faced opposition from all local councils in the affected areas. He stated that the government could meet its environmental objectives without the expense of a new park. The proposed area would have encompassed the Clwydian Range and the Dee Valley, representing the first new national park in Wales since 1957.

While the decision is currently provisional, Davies indicated a four-week period will allow interested parties to make further representations before a final determination is made. Rose O’Neill, Chief Executive of the Campaign for National Parks, criticized the move, describing it as a “bitterly disappointing retreat” and a failure of leadership regarding nature and climate resilience.