Motorists have been urged to be careful on a Welsh beach following complaints from holidaymakers about reckless driving. Reports of drivers speeding and dangerously weaving between children at Morfa Bychan (Black Rock Sands) have left many visitors appalled.
The stunning beach, situated close to Porthmadog in Gwynedd, is one of the rare beaches in North Wales where it’s permissible for cars and vans to drive onto the sand. Police and council officials regularly monitor the area, ready to crack down on any dangerous or anti-social driving behaviour.
Visitors have recounted distressing incidents where their peaceful beach trips were marred by “idiots” who recklessly speed and perform risky manoeuvres like “donuts”, spinning their vehicles in tight circles on the beachfront. A woman from the Midlands expressed her alarm at the scenes she witnessed, branding the beach as “unsafe” for family outings.
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She voiced her concerns on Tripadvisor, stating: “It will only be a matter of time before a car kills a child on this beach. The cars racing each other weaving between families sat on the sand was shocking. There were cars pulling donuts on the sand as children flew kites.” For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
Her review continued with a stark comparison: “We have never seen anything as dangerous. It was like trying to build sandcastles on a dual carriageway! There is a beach patrol but the cars pull over and wait for the patrol to drive past then they are back to racing again.”, reports North Wales Live.
A visitor from Bedfordshire was equally appalled. He loved the beach and its caves but said it was “completely ruined by cars driving everywhere”. “Before we went, I saw that cars were allowed on it,” he wrote in a review. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think that meant people would be driving all over it, round children playing on the sands, and actually driving down to the sea to watch their children playing in the waves. We even had to get round a car that was attempting to do donuts in the sand. You find a nice spot to sit down with your family and build sandcastles, and within 10 minutes you are surrounded by cars! “.
It was a point echoed by a family from Chesterfield. They were happy to pay to go on the beach but became “a bit nervous with the little ones”. In a Tripadvisor review, they said: “It was packed from end to end. Hundreds, if not thousands of cars driving around, weaving between sunbathers and kids building sandcastles.”
Morfa Bychan is a wide beach about three miles long stretching from the Glaslyn estuary to a headland that gives the area its English name. As it gently slopes out to sea, a vast expanse of sand is revealed at low tide. This can cause problems for motorists, as the driver of a brand new Mercedes discovered to their horror this week – there’s more on this here.
Visitors from Huddersfield found themselves having to dodge “speeding/racing drivers who didn’t seem to care about the safety of others”. “It did feel like you had to have your wits about you at all time. I was driving sensibly and slow but on 2-3 occasions, dogs ran in front of us chasing balls. Also, some other drivers were not taking taking enough care and driving too fast.”
A speed limit of 10mph is enforced on the beach and a vehicle-free zone has been established. Cyngor Gwynedd emphasised that extra caution was required as the conditions for driving were “very different to those of the road”. The local authority is adopting a “zero toleranace” stance towards any driving misconduct this summer.
A spokesperson stated: “Public safety is a priority for Cyngor Gwynedd and we do not tolerate dangerous or reckless driving at any public place which is managed by the council. At Morfa Bychan beach in particular, we work closely with North Wales Police to ensure that motorists adhere to the rules.”
“A 10mph speed limit is enforced, which is clearly marked by prominent signage in the area. Our team of beach officers and North Wales Police patrol the area regularly and advise drivers of the requirement to comply with Road Traffic Act regulations. Information leaflets reminding visitors of the rules and hazards are also handed out to drivers.”
“The vast majority of people respect the rules, and drive responsibly on the beach, but unfortunately a small number of motorists risk the safety of others by driving irresponsibly and carelessly. In such cases of anti-social behaviour, Cyngor Gwynedd works with the police to keep the public safe. Several people have been prosecuted for driving offences at Morfa Bychan beach over the years.”
Vehicles are allowed onto the beach throughout the year, but a fee is payable at the entrance between April 1 and September 30. For cars, it’s £8, and for motorhomes and caravans it’s £16 (card payment only). Season permits are also available (car £80, large vehicles £160), with concessions for local and Gwynedd residents.
In 2018, a night gate was installed on the beach entry road to stop motorhomes and campervans using the sands as a cheap overnight stop and leaving litter behind. During the main summer season, this is shut between 8pm and 9am. Anyone caught parking on the beach at night risks a £50 fine.
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