August 24, 2026 - 190 views
A Member of the Senedd has raised concerns over plans for a major development at Penrhos Nature Reserve on Anglesey.
Janet Finch-Saunders, the Member of the Senedd for Bangor, Conwy and Môn, says the proposals for 500 holiday lodges, a restaurant, additional facilities and a significant increase in parking could put pressure on an important natural environment.
Penrhos attracts around 100,000 visitors each year and is regarded as one of the most visited sites on Ynys Môn. The reserve is also home to endangered species and important habitats, including areas supporting the island's iconic red squirrel population.
Ms Finch-Saunders recently visited the reserve with Hilary Paterson-Jones and Director Katuma McLaughlin, who have been campaigning for the site to be protected.
Following the visit, she said Penrhos was "far too precious to be sacrificed to overdevelopment".
She said the reserve was not only an important natural landscape but also a vital habitat for endangered wildlife and a popular destination for visitors.
The Senedd Member also questioned the scale of the proposed development, saying the 500 lodges and extensive additional parking could cause lasting damage to the environment.
She said the need to protect natural spaces was becoming increasingly important as the impacts of climate change grow.
Ms Finch-Saunders added that any development at Penrhos should be "genuinely sympathetic" to its surroundings, with the protection of the reserve, its habitats and wildlife at the centre of decisions.
The proposals are likely to remain a point of debate as concerns continue to be raised about how the site can accommodate tourism and economic development while protecting its environmental importance.
Bayside has reached out to the Anglesey Borough Council and developers for comment.
