THE MINISTER for the Environment for the Welsh Government has visited Snowdonia to mark the launch of a potentially crucial partnership plan.

At the Gorphwysfa Café at the Pen-y-Pass on Monday morning, Hannah Blythyn AM spoke of her hopes for the Snowdon Partnership Plan, which involves 18 companies coming together in order to safeguard the mountain.

Following three years of discussions and consultations, the pioneering plan outlines how the Snowdon mountain range, which attracts over 550,000 visitors a year, can grow its potential.

Among the recommendations included in the plan are improvements to infrastructure and buildings to visitors and increasing the number of Welsh speakers working in the outdoor sector.

One of the primary concerns in the area in recent years is the problem with parking and partners within the Snowdon plan say they aim to tackle this obstacle head on.

Ms Blythyn wants improvements made to the Sherpa bus service situated in the Snowdon area, believing it will help ease the congestion of cars.

“The Sherpa service will continue to be developed throughout the plan as part of our bid for the sustainability of Snowdonia,” she said.

“We will have to work alongside visitors and visit Wales in order to help educate us on how best to handle the parking situation so as to not dissuade people from coming back to the area in future.

“Our main goals are to make Snowdon accessible and sustainable for future generations.

“I would like to congratulate all partners involved and I look forward to working with them to achieve this vision for Yr Wyddfa by 2030.”

Helen Pye, of the Snowdonia National Park Authority (SNPA) maintained updating car parks was a huge priority for the area as it looks to reach its “2030 vision” mentioned in the plan.

“Every year, people are issued tickets at big events such as the Snowdonia marathon as they are having to park in strange places,” she said. That is why it is vital that we go about making changes to these obstructions and possibly introduce new car parks into the area.We have so much history here in Snowdon and so it is vitally important that we preserve it and keep people interested in the area and not deter them with issues such as these.

“I’m confident that this new plan will help us do just that.”

Due to the high number of visitors to Snowdon each year, significant pressures and threats are put on the area’s infrastructure, communities, landscape and habitats.

The aim of the Snowdon Partnership Plan is to tackle these challenges and threats, ensuring a better future for Snowdon.

Trystan Edwards, of the National Trust, said: “We want to make sure that all of our services are up to scratch and this includes updating facilities such as toilets and recycling. We must ensure that more of the money brought in from tourism is used to benefit the area so that people will be more inclined to come back and visit again in the future.”