Save Shell Island: Fears for popular campsite's future due to emergency access

Shell Island, a peninsula on the Mid Wales coast, sees tens of thousands of campers cross the causeway onto the site every year.

But now its owners fears the future of Shell Island, near Harlech, could be under threat because of changes to emergency access provision.

At high tide the causeway, the only public access, cuts off the site twice a day.

However, access is available across the Llanbedr Airfield, which has been owned by the Welsh Government for more than 50 years.

But the new tenant of the Llanbedr Airfield, Snowdonia Aerospace LLP, has withdrawn guaranteed 24-hour emergency services access to Shell Island.

Mr Richard Workman, a company director of Shell Island, said from this month and only on a temporary basis and at the discretion of Snowdonia Aerospace LLP, emergency services seeking access to Shell Island during high tides now had to call a mobile number issued by Snowdonia Aerospace LLP.

"Snowdonia Aerospace LLP say they will open the access gate in an emergency, only at times of high tide, subject to the availability of their contact, so that the services can be escorted over the airfield.

"We don't think that is good enough and we'd like the Welsh Government to intervene," he said.

"Shell Island in Gwynedd is one of the largest campsites in Europe and a much-loved family holiday destination.

"It provides significant employment for many families in the local community. They are all now facing an uncertain future."

He said the business was petitioning the Welsh Government, as owners of the Llanbedr Airfield, to urge Snowdonia Aerospace LLP to re-instate guaranteed and permanent high tide emergency services access so Shell Island could continue to operate.

An online 'Save Shell Island' petition has already been signed by more than 7,000 people.

Snowdonia Aerospace, which has been the tenant of Llanbedr airfield since 2012, wants it to be the home of the UK Spaceport and a centre for the testing and development of drone technology.

Mr Workman said Shell Island was seeking to clarify the legality of the situation and, in the meantime, was having to warn holidaymakers of the new arrangements.

He said the safety of visitors and staff was his first priority and said first aid was available on the site. Snowdonia Aerospace was unavailable for comment.