GOODRICH AND WELSH BICKNOR
NDP POLICIES TOURISM
Tourism is seen as being something that is important to both the community and the whole area of the Wye Valley AONB and should be encouraged. In the Community Survey only 5% felt that encouraging more tourism was not acceptable.
The Survey also identified strongly that fishing, canoeing and cycling were favoured activities and that better signed footpaths and information boards would be beneficial. It also identified that more camping and touring caravan sites were not favoured, nor were more hotels.
In defining the policy, an overriding consideration is that any increase in tourist numbers should be matched by the provision of improved facilities that ensure the landscape and habitats that make the area so attractive to live in and visit are not damaged.
At a certain point it may be necessary to take measures to employ controls to achieve this.
1 Activities
1.1 Walking
Walking is seen as a major attraction for visitors to the Wye Valley. The Wye Valley Walk runs through the parish and walks, particularly on and around Coppet Hill, are in many guide books.
For those arriving by car, parking other than at Goodrich Castle does present a problem which will only get worse. Maintaining longer hours for the Castle car park, which is only open when the Castle is open and identifying areas for additional parking for walkers would be desirable now and in future will become a necessity.
Better signage of footpaths, including the introduction of signed short circular routes through and around the village and onto Coppett Hill would be a positive move to improve the visitor experience as would explanatory notice boards.
1.2 Cycling
There is a signed cycle route running from Symonds Yat East to Goodrich Castle, using quiet roads wherever possible. The Peregrine Trail running between Symonds Yat Eat and Monmouth is a popular dedicated track along the Wye.
An issue arises, as it does elsewhere, with off road cyclists using footpaths and causing damage which takes a long time to recover. Efforts should be made by hotels and the YHA and others to direct those wishing to cycle off road to use the dedicated tracks in the Forest of Dean.
1.3 Canoeing
Canoeing has increased very rapidly in recent years with a large number of companies launching canoes from the Kerne Bridge launch site (situated In Walford Parish), mostly for trips to Symonds Yat West and Monmouth.
While respecting the freedom of waterways to canoeists, there is also the issue of the River Wye being a Special Area of Conservation with important fish breeding grounds in the gravels on this stretch of the river.
While policy setting is necessarily outside the scope of the NDP or the parish, some restrictions on inappropriate operations from hire companies should be supported.
Other river activities – bank holiday raft races which have an overnight stop in Goodrich and the regular competitive use of the rapids at Symonds Yat East by canoe clubs - are activities that bring business into the area and should be supported.
1.4 Fishing
Both coarse and salmon fishing are activities that attract anglers to the area, either as members of angling clubs or by purchasing day tickets. Many stay in the area and support local hotels.
As mentioned in 1.3, the balance between the interests of canoeist and fishermen need to be balanced and groups trying to achieve this balance should be supported.
In recent years big efforts have been made between Canoeists and Fishermen to ensure that both sports can be enjoyed harmoniously. Fishermen have the river from June - March for coarse fishing and there is very little canoe activity between September and March with the busiest times predominantly being weekends,
2 The Tourist Establishments
2.1 Hotel and Holiday Accommodation
The Community Survey identified B&B and short term let holiday accommodation as the preferred option.
Goodrich is fortunate at present to have very few houses that are short term holiday lets and any major increase or building specifically for that purpose should not to be encouraged.
It is necessary that hotel facilities are kept abreast of enhanced customer expectations. Additional and upgraded hotel accommodation is something that should be allowed while restricting it to the two existing establishments in Goodrich (Ye Hostelrie and the Cross Keys Inn) and at Symonds Yat East within the confines of the current settlement.
2.2 Goodrich Castle and Visitors Centre
A major English Heritage site with over 40,000 visitors per annum, the castle draws a lot of traffic through Goodrich but is some distance from the village centre. It provides excellent parking, for which a charge is made, but this facility is not then made available for other tourists at times in the winter when the castle is closed.
More active co-operation with English Heritage over the use of their facilities and improved planning for parking when large events are held at the castle should be mutually beneficial.
2.3 Symonds Yat East
As a longstanding picturesque tourist destination Symonds Yat East caters for a ‘traditional’ visitor and those seeking more active recreation. Estimated visitors are over 300,000 per annum with over 130 summer employees.
Access is difficult inpeak summer times along a single-track road with passing places; no steps can be taken to improve this. The single-track road is also a signed cycle track.
Parking is at the far end of the settlement, between hotel and river, and in front of the inn and tea rooms. This leads to significant congestion on the single-track road through the settlementand also air pollution in what should be an idyllic location.
Similar locations are now increasingly car free and parking at the entrance to the settlement or a shuttle bus service would enhance the visitor experience and reduce pollution in what are two Special Areas of Conservation – the River Wye and the Upper Wye Gorge Woodland. Support should be given to such a proposal, should the hoteliers at Symonds Yat identify ways of achieving it,
2.4 Welsh Bicknor
The Welsh Bicknor YHA has very high occupancy, with a range of types of bedroom and both fixed tents and camping. The majority of visitors now arrive by motor transport.
Access is again a major problem with a steep single-track road allowing access for cars only. Due to the extended closure of the registered footpath over Stowfield Viaduct, those arriving by coach now (2017) must walk about ¼ mile to reach the site.
Closure of this bridge for safety reasons, which also causes a significant change in the route of the long-distance Wye Valley Walk Footpath,is an issue that needs to be addressed.
3 Information Boards
There is currently one very outdated general information board at the bus stop in the Cruse area and one covering Coppett Hill by the Castle shop.
A replacement to the board in the village centre would be of benefit to tourists wishing to know about and how to find their way around the village, as would signage at Symonds Yat East.