A dad has issued a warning to families planning on travelling to a beauty spot popular with scousers.
The hill, which is the highest summit in the Clwydian Range and Flintshire's highest point, is just over an hour's drive from Liverpool city centre. As a result, it is a hot spot for Liverpudlians looking for a change of scene, some fresh air or somewhere to take the kids.
Moel Famau is 1,821 feet at its highest point, meaning it is classed as a hill rather than a mountain. However, it is tall enough to provide spectacular views.
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One dad, however, was handed a shock when he went for a family day out at the adored beauty spot. Not only did he find double-yellow lines at his usual parking spot, but his car was also "pinged" by new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.
Writing on social media, he said he felt “trapped” into paying for parking there. He said: “After driving there it was to my surprise to find that the layby where I park had been sprayed with wonky double yellow lines,”
“I entered the car park only to realise that I had been pinged on camera and instantly charged £2 for doing so. I paid and left immediately before I was charged any more money!
“Considering there have never been double yellows on this stretch of road until now, it makes you wonder whether the intention is to lure people into the same trap I fell into! “Absolutely disgraceful!” he fumed.
Each year Moel Famau attracts 300,00 visitors a year, including many from Liverpool and the Wirral lured by rumours of a summit chippy. Aware of the pressures on local roads, Denbighshire Council drew up a plan with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the operator of the hill’s lower car park. Also consulted were North Wales Police and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), North Wales Live reports.
Last week, double yellow lines were painted on both sides of Bwlch Pen Barras road leading from the village of Tafarn-y-Gelyn. Already installed last September, at Coed Moel Famau (lower car park), was an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera.
This reads a vehicle’s number plate at the entrance barrier so drivers do not need to buy a ticket on arrival. They pay when they leave, ensuring visitors only pay for the stay duration, said NRW.
The system charges for the length of time a car is parked up. Charges will be £2 for 3 hours, 40p for every additional 30 minutes, £5 maximum charge per day.
There is no overnight parking as camping in this area is strictly prohibited and never allowed. The current prices and times for Moel Famau car park on Denbighshire County Council's website are:
Opening times - Winter: 8am to 6pm
Opening times - Summer: 8am to 9pm (overnight parking / camping is never permitted)
Charge for all day: £1.50
Permits - Annual permit (£30.00) available from Loggerheads Country Park (01824 712757).
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