THE Snowdonia National Park Authority has a new chairman.

At the authority’s AGM held at Plas Tan y Bwlch near Maentwrog, Owain Wyn was elected.

This was the authority’s first meeting following the council elections in May.

Eight new members were also welcomed to the meeting.

They are Cllr Freya Bentham, Cllr Annwen Hughes, Cllr Edgar Wyn Owen, Cllr Elfed Roberts Powell, Cllr Catherine Wager, Cllr Gethin Glyn Williams from Gwynedd Council and Cllr Pauline Heap-Williams and Cllr Wyn Ellis Jones of Conwy County Borough Council.

They will serve their term as members for five years, until the local elections in May 2022.

As well as electing Owain Wyn as chairman of the authority, Cllr John Pughe Roberts was elected as vice-chair.

Owain Wyn is a Welsh Government appointed member and has been an authority member for nearly four years. He was the authority’s previous vice-chair.

John Pughe-Roberts is a Gwynedd Council Member for Dinas Mawddwy and Corris.

Welcoming the new members, the authority’s chief executive, Emyr Williams, said: “These are exciting and important times for us here in Snowdonia as we look forward to the coming years.

"Members of the authority will be able to share that excitement as they tackle some of the biggest challenges facing us, which includes deciding how Snowdonia will be managed over the next six years within the context of issues such as Brexit, the well-being and future generations act and following the Future Landscapes Report, how our statutory purposes may evolve.

"We can also look forward to seeing the hard work of our officers coming to fruition with the official opening of Yr Ysgwrn, the Dolgellau Townscape Heritage Initiative, the Snowdon Partnership, the Carneddau Landscape Partnership and Cyfoeth Ein Corsydd, just to name a handful of projects that are currently underway.”

Looking forward to the new position, Owain Wyn said: “Being chairman of Snowdonia National Park Authority during such a crucial period in its history is a great honour for me.

"Firstly, I would like to thank the members for their kindness and faith in electing me as chairman, and I also wish to take this opportunity to thank the former members for their work and in particular, the former chairman, Caerwyn Roberts, for his diligence and his valuable work for Snowdonia - its landscape and people, for 18 years.

"I now look forward to working closely together with the Welsh Government and other partners to ensure that one of the most special areas of Wales, and one of Wales’ most important resources will be carefully managed in the interests of the nation, for today and tomorrow.”