A COUNCILLOR has slammed the consultation process over proposals for a new national park in North East Wales.
Earlier this month, the controversial plans for the new Glyndŵr National Park took a major step forward.
Following a review of the evidence and the findings from the 2025 statutory consultation, the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Board agreed to make the Glyndŵr National Park Designation Order.
The Welsh Government will further consider the proposal for a new National Park based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) following a Public Notice period and on receipt of information and evidence, including consultation responses.
The proposal has been met with opposition by Wrexham, Powys and Denbighshire county councils.
And Glyn Ceiriog councillor, Trevor Bates, has blasted the consultation process - saying there are "serious shortcomings in transparency, inclusivity, and procedural fairness".
He said it has provided insufficient information on governance, funding, and operational structures, leaving participants unable to make fully informed responses.
There was also no recorded input from the police, fire service, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, or Ambulance Service - raising concerns that public safety and infrastructure implications were not properly considered.
Cllr Bates said that respondents reported structural bias in the consultation design, with supporters able to register approval easily, while objectors were required to select limited reasons for opposing the proposal.
He added that disabled and digitally excluded residents also faced barriers to participation due to the lack of accessible formats and offline engagement options.
"People were complaining it was too complicated online and the booklets were a job to find," Cllr Bates said. "So we created a one-page response."
This led to 1,015 individually signed responses in objection, containing personal details such as names and addresses for verification purposes, being sent by Cllr Bates to NRW. However, NRW rejected them and failed to count the 1,015 in the total number of objections.
Farmers and rural residents said they were unable to evaluate how park designation would affect farming, planning powers, or land management.
"This consultation did not give all voices an equal opportunity to be heard. We are calling for a more transparent, balanced, and accessible process before any further decisions are made,” said Cllr Bates, who is fronting the 'No to Glyndŵr National Park' campaign.
He is calling on the Welsh Government to repeat the consultation with improved transparency, inclusive engagement measures, and full consideration of all affected services and communities if they intend to take the proposal forward.
"Of course we would welcome an end to this waste of public money when the area is already struggling to provide basic facilities like toilets and decent roads," Cllr Bates added.
This Public Notice period runs until February 15, giving people a further opportunity to formally respond to the proposal.
On Tuesday night (January 20), a meeting was held about the park proposal in the Hand Hotel in Llangollen and a new campaign group of six was formed to oppose it, with a chair, secretary and treasurer.
The group has its own Facebook page called 'No to Glyndŵr National Park Proposal'.
During the past three years, NRW says it has carried out detailed evaluations, data gathering, technical assessments, and engagement with communities and stakeholders, including public engagement in 2023, public consultation in 2024, and the most recent statutory consultation in 2025.
The NRW Board claims its decision has been made based on issues relating directly to the statutory tests and the criteria for designation, whilst acknowledging the range of feedback, support and concerns, including objections from local authorities as statutory consultees during consultation.
NRW says that during the Public Notice period (running until February 15), the Designation Order and accompanying documents will be available online and in public buildings across the region.
At the end of this period, NRW says it will submit all information to the Welsh Government, which will consider NRW’s evidence alongside wider issues raised by the public and stakeholders before agreeing the next steps.
In response to the concerns raised, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “This is a significant point in the process of evaluating the case for the designation of a new National Park in Wales and we would like to recognise the excellent work that Natural Resources Wales has undertaken to reach this point.
“The next step is for us to consider this evidence from NRW alongside our own evidence when the public notice period comes to an end.”
NRW was approached for comment.
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