Nans leading blockade at popular beach threaten traffic chaos for tourists A group of residents will carry out a slow walk on the Bank Holiday weekend in protest of their village's traffic problems Sandy Traeth Llanddwyn beach backed by Newborough forest with views of Eryri (Image: Thomas Follows/Wiki ) Two nans will lead a "moving blockade" of angry villagers expected to disrupt traffic heading to one of North Wales' most popular tourist destinations. With long tailbacks anticipated over the Bank Holiday weekend, disgruntled Anglesey residents are determined to send a message about the gridlocks that regularly plague the iconic Traeth Llanddwyn beach and neighbouring Newborough Forest. Nan of seven Annwen Williams, 58, said: "For years there have been lots of meetings and lots of talk but not enough action. Well, we are now the action. We’re fed up and we need things to change. And we won’t be backing down – this weekend’s protest won’t be the last. We’ll keep doing them until something is finally done to sort out the village’s traffic problems." ‌ A group of residents and their children will set off on a "slow walk" from the village centre at 9am tomorrow, Sunday, May 4. Accompanied by one or more tractors for safety, they aim to take a one hour stroll along Church Street - the only access road to the main beach car park in Newborough Forest - before making the return journey. ‌ A small police escort is promised and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which oversees Newborough Forest National Nature Reserve, has pledged additional traffic management. NorthWalesLive reported that on sunny days, beach-bound traffic often queues 1.8 miles along the narrow, twisty access road from Newborough village centre. From here, it’s not uncommon for tailbacks to continue for another half-mile along the A4080 to Pen-lôn, snarling up the village. Unable to escape the chaos, beleaguered residents complain they become trapped. To avoid the queues, which often leaves visitors stewing in their vehicles, desperate motorists park on residential streets, at times blocking driveways. Others park up on double yellow lines that were added to the A4080 in 2021 to prevent local congestion. Article continues below Plans for Sunday’s protest were discussed at a village meeting on Thursday, May 1. Also present were NRW, Anglesey Council and police representatives. "They tried to tell us we wouldn’t be safe walking on the road,” said Annwen. But it’s dangerous already. "I walk up that road two or three times a week - the forest and beach are my refuge. Often I have to jump onto the narrow verge and press up against farm fencing to avoid the cars. There’s always a lot of beeping: there’s so much road rage as angry visitors get stuck in the queues. "During Sunday’s slow walk, anyone trying to get to the forest and beach will not get past us. At the meeting, NRW told us that, for safety reasons, they will try to slow visitor traffic at Pen-lôn, or even stop it altogether." ‌ Newborough’s congestion problems date back 20 years. Visitor numbers surged during the covid pandemic, resulting in the introduction of village centre traffic management measures at weekends and the summer holidays. But residents complain the trend has continued, fuelled by social media – so much so that a prominent Anglesey page on Facebook has now banned photos of Treath Llanddwyn and its island. After a miserable Easter, in which last year’s "worst ever" gridlocks were exceeded, three lifelong village residents decided enough was enough. Annwen, John Evans, 59, and Heather Savage, 62, met to gauge support and the idea for a "slow walk" was formed. Article continues below "We can’t call it a march because for this you have to give 28 days notice to the police,” said Annwen. “We know that everyone in the village feels the same way we do. All we want is the chance to cross the road safely – especially those with children – and the freedom to leave our homes if we need to. "We’re certainly not anti-tourist. A lot of visitors suffer in the congestion too, and they deserve better. We don’t want to stop them coming, we just want an end to the gridlocks."