Driven to succeed

Jul 25 2002 By Helen Harper, Caernarfon And Denbigh Herald

A LONG-RUNNING battle is a step closer to being resolved. For several years, W O Jones from Y Felinheli, a former Gwynedd councillor, has campaigned to stop cars from parking on Y Maes in Caernarfon. He claims this is unlawful, and that the area should be reinstated to its original use as a public recreational area.

Mr Jones' research has shown that in the Town Council's Michaelmas Quarter Sessions in 1933, it was stated that the "Parking ground in Castle Square was contrary to the Act of 1925".

This meeting reported that: "Anything which interferes with the free use of the Highway, or becomes or tends to become a nuisance, comes within the purview of the Police who are bound to see that the law as laid down by Parliament is obeyed."

When Gwynedd Council opened a pay-and-display car park on Y Maes in 1997, Mr Jones placed a Notice of Motion before the full council asking that the car park be closed, based on this evidence, and this was carried out.

However, cars have continued to park on Y Maes at weekends. After correspondence with North Wales Police, Mr Jones was informed last year that cars were parking on Y Maes because a bollard blocking the entrance was taken down at weekends by Gwynedd Council.

Now Mr Jones has established that although Gwynedd Council has been leaving the bollard in place over the weekends for the past few months, it has not deterred drivers entering Y Maes through the no entry sign, and Mr Jones has caught this on camera.

Mr Jones said: "A total of 42 cars parked on Y Maes on Sunday, July 14, and all of them entered where the no entry sign is.From 12.45pm to 1.30pm, 19 cars passed the no entry sign and parked on the Maes, and I have photos of the cars passing the sign, so now the police must act."

A spokeswoman from Gwynedd Council said: "The council has put a bollard up and it is up all day, and in the night it is taken down for emergencies. In the day,thereis a CCTV camera pointing at it so if a brewery wanted to deliver it could easily be taken down for a genuine delivery."

Chief Inspector Gwion Jones, from Caernarfon, said: "A bollard is in operation at Y Maes prohibiting vehicles fro m entering at certain times. Anybody found entering the land via the exit is contravening the no entry sign and is therefore committing an offence and will be dealt with accordingly."