Questions remain over Glyndŵr National Park plan, says Flintshire council
Flintshire Council says it still has concerns about plans to create a new National Park for North East Wales.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) launched a 12-week statutory consultation in September on the proposed Glyndŵr National Park, which would include parts of the Clwydian Range, Dee Valley and nearby coastal areas. The consultation runs until 8 December 2025.
The plan follows the Welsh Government’s commitment to create a fourth National Park in Wales, the first since 1957.
The new designation would be based largely on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape.
Flintshire’s Cabinet will meet on 18 November to agree its formal response.
While the council supports protecting the area’s landscapes, it says there are still major questions about how the new park authority would operate and how it would be funded.
Concerns include the potential for overlapping responsibilities between the park and local councils, a lack of clarity on planning powers and the risk of extra costs.
The council also says tighter planning controls could push housing and job development to other parts of the county.
The report to councillors highlights potential benefits such as stronger environmental protections, better access to funding and a boost for local tourism.
But it also warns that without proper management, more visitors could put pressure on local roads, housing and the Welsh language.
The Welsh Government has said the new park will be properly funded without reducing budgets for existing national parks or local authorities, but details have not yet been shared.
NRW’s revised proposal includes adjustments to the park boundary, bringing back the Gronant and Talacre Dunes area and removing some lower-lying areas in Powys.
Denbighshire councillors refuse to back the plans
At a special meeting in Ruthin this week, Denbighshire members voted not to support the proposed Glyndŵr National Park, saying the plans were “not thought out” and raised serious concerns about infrastructure, funding and the impact on local services.
Opposition leader Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts said tighter planning rules and a potential rise in visitor numbers could place further strain on already stretched services. “Why would we want to put ourselves under more pressure by bringing in potentially 100,000 more visitors when our infrastructure is not robust enough to handle it?” he said.
He warned that public facilities were already under pressure and said creating a national park without guaranteed funding would be “absolutely suicidal at this time”. Other councillors questioned whether the area’s existing National Landscape already provided adequate protection and said local communities had not been fully engaged.
Denbighshire’s Cabinet will now make the final decision on its response, but councillors have recommended deferring any firm position until after the 2026 Senedd elections, when more clarity on funding and governance may be available.
With less than a month to go until the consultation closes, NRW is encouraging people across North East Wales to attend local events and submit their views.
The statutory consultation follows two years of detailed evaluation commissioned by the Welsh Government, including data gathering, technical assessments and engagement with communities and stakeholders across the region.
Earlier public engagement in 2023 and a consultation in 2024 helped shape the current proposal.
Ash Pearce, Programme Manager at NRW, said: “This is an exceptionally rare opportunity to influence the long-term protection of this special landscape, balancing the needs of local communities, visitors and the environment. Please share your thoughts by submitting a response form before the consultation closes.”
A map showing the proposed park boundary can be downloaded from the NRW website. Residents can submit their responses before the consultation closes on 8 December 2025.
The proposed Glyndŵr National Park map can be downloaded at: NPP_001b_ProposedBoundary_
The remaining consultation events are as follows:
| Date | Time | Location | Targeted audience | Type of event |
| Tuesday 18 November | 4pm – 7pm | Llangollen Town Hall | Public | Drop-in |
| Wednesday 19 November | 6pm – 7.30pm | Microsoft Teams | Public | Meeting |
| Wednesday 26 November | 3pm – 4.30pm | Microsoft Teams | Environmental Groups | Meeting |
| Thursday 27 November | 3pm – 4.30pm | Microsoft Teams | Tourism, Recreation and Access | Meeting |
| Tuesday 2 December | 6pm – 7.30pm | Microsoft Teams | Public | Meeting |
The main way to respond to the consultation is by submitting a responses form.
To do so, visit: https://ymgynghori.
All responses must be received no later than 23:59 on Monday 8 December 2025.
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