Snowdonia National Park – Health & Safety and Access
The National Park Authority is undertaking a great deal of work in providing facilities for people with disabilities and allowing greater access to Snowdonia.
Activity 1
Using the information on pages 12 to 15 from the document at the link above, summarise what is currently being done to improve access to Snowdonia National Park for people with special needs.
Creating facilities for visitors with special needs
The link below explains the thinking behind the design of the boardwalk.
www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/visiting/snowdonia-for-all/leisure-walks/llyn-cwellyn-board-walk
Activity 2
Discuss with a colleague the Health and Safety issues related to the development of boardwalks for visitors with special needs, such as the one at Llyn Cwellyn.
Summarise the points made in your discussion.
Balancing access with conservation
The following article sets out the National Park Authority’s reasons for putting tarmac on specific sections of the Miners Track to make access for wheelchair users easier.
Work on the Miners’ Track
9 July 2010
Following detailed consultation with SNPA’s Disability Forum, Northern Snowdonia’s Access Forum, local landowners and Gwynedd Council’s Highway Department, contractors have been working on repairing and maintaining sections of Snowdon’s Miners Track as part of SNPA’s annual programme of improvements.
Work has been undertaken to upgrade the structure of paths, drainage and general maintenance work, enabling a wider audience to enjoy and appreciate the mountain. This work also coincides with substantial renovation work at the Pen y Pass café, where improvements have been made to the heating and insulation system, as well as the kitchen and dining area which forms part of the National Park’s commitment to the 10:10 initiative.
Hywel Jones, SNPA Access Project Officer said,
“The work on the Miners Track is part of a general planned programme of repair and maintenance within a much broader programme of improving access in the National Park.
When improving the conditions of paths, techniques vary depending on the terrain, the type of footpath and the user’s needs.
In this instance, the majority of work on the Miners Track was undertaken using traditional techniques varying from stone pitching to laying aggregate.
However because of the unique nature of some sections and the need to take into account the needs of a wider audience, these methods were not suitable.
On three small sloping sections of the path between Llyn Teyrn and Llyn Llydaw, to ensure better access and longevity of the surface, we have had to use more
durable methods and, in this instance, tarmac topped with crushed granite was used.
In total, 2½ km of the path has been improved and only on three small sections has tarmac been used, 62m x 1m, 30m x 3m, and 25m x 1m.
This will now enable more people of all abilities to use the track from Pen y Pass to Llyn Llydaw,
and it also forms part of our continuous vision to improve access and enjoyment to all.”
However, different people have expressed opposition to the scheme.
Use the links below to investigate the different opinions expressed about the use of tarmac to repair and maintain the footpath.
www.snowdonia-society.org.uk/news.php?n_id=203
Activity 3
Having researched all of the links above thoroughly, prepare a case for the use of tarmac on sections of the footpath in question from a Health and Safety and access perspective. This may take the form of:
- A letter written to a newspaper
- A PowerPoint presentation
Activity 4
Evaluate the potential Health and Safety issues arising from allowing access to more remote and challenging areas of the National Park for people with special needs.