I am fortunate enough to represent part of Snowdonia National Park, a distinctive area in terms of landscape, nature and way of life. As well as being one of the most beautiful places on earth, Snowdonia is also home to 26,000 people, many of whom work in the park from day to day.

In recent years, there has been explosive growth in one part of the economy in the area, namely outdoor tourism. According to one study, this sector contributed more than £480 million to the Welsh economy. In terms of Snowdonia, expanding the outdoor sector is a cornerstone of Gwynedd’s economic strategy, given that it’s recognised as one of a number of growth sectors in the area, and the emphasis is on promoting business opportunities for local young people.

It is an economic activity entirely in keeping with the two statutory purposes of a national park, namely, as we’ve heard, conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the areas, and promoting opportunities for the public to understand and enjoy the special characteristics of their areas. As we’ve heard, in the event of conflict between these two statutory purposes, the national park authority must give priority to the Sandford principle. That’s the situation at present.

Evidently, this principle is vital to many—certainly to many who have contacted me over the past few days. And many of those are perplexed that there is no reference to this principle in the report being discussed today. It is entirely appropriate to review the purpose of the designated areas, of course, and this was done under the guidance of Professor Terry Marsden, and then came the publication of ‘Future Landscapes’ in May. It is good to have the debate, but, of course, the problem is that the Sandford principle is missing from the current report, which is a mistake in my opinion. By failing to address one of the central tenets of the designated landscapes as they currently stand, the report is inadequate, and it has succeeded in annoying a large number of partners involved with the national parks, perhaps unnecessarily, and these are the exact partners whose collaboration is needed in moving forward in this debate. It has also generated concern among my constituents in Arfon, with people feeling that a great change was afoot, that Snowdonia may be about to change for ever, and that the uniqueness of the park was under threat. To allay these concerns, it is important that Plaid Cymru’s amendments are passed today. We have to have clarity, detailed scrutiny, and a full consultation on the future of our parks and our designated landscapes.

I would like to thank all the constituents who have contacted me to air their concerns. I would like to be able to go back to them and say that the Assembly has accepted Plaid’s amendments, and that the Assembly recognises the need for a full and transparent debate if there is any intention to review the purpose of such an iconic place as Snowdonia national park.

As well as extolling two statutory purposes, Snowdonia National Park has added a third purpose, namely fostering the economic and social well-being of its communities. This is a vital purpose, in my opinion. Snowdonia is an area steeped in local history and culture, and more than half of the population speaks Welsh.

To close, therefore, a full consultation is needed nationally, but we also need a consultation with the local population and the relevant bodies about all the issues—the need to conserve and enhance, certainly, and yes, the Sandford principle, but also the need to foster the economic well-being of communities in these areas.