THE name of one of the highest mountains in Wales has caused controversy at Snowdonia National Park’s planning meeting.

Natural Resources Wales had submitted an application for signs near the Dôl Idris car park at Minffordd, near Talyllyn.

The wording on one of the signs showed directions to ‘Cadair’ Idris.

The Dôl Idris car park is a recognised route to the mountain from the south side of one of Wales' highest and most popular peaks.

But Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn, Dolgellau, asked: “Who changed the name from Cader Idris to Cadair Idris?

“It was probably some academic somewhere without any knowledge of the history of the name. It has always been Cader Idris to me,” he said.

He was supported by the chairman of the planning committee Cllr Elwyn Edwards, Bala and Cllr John Pugh Roberts, Dinas Mawddwy.

Cllr Edwards is a campaigner for keeping original Welsh names and said that historic documents showed that the name was Cader Idris.

The committee was told that the former Countryside Commission for Wales had changed the name to Cadair Idris after consultation with the Welsh Language Commissioner.

This has meant that Cadair Idris is now used on all official documents.

But the committee argued that there had not been any local consultation on the change of name.

Cllr Tom Ellis, Trawsfynydd, formerly from Dolgellau said that the name Cader Idris was the original name.

“I think that we should approve the signs but that they change the name back to Cader Idris,” he said.

The national park’s legal officer reminded the committee that they should decide on the application as it stood or refuse it.

Cllr Edwards said that he had checked old maps and it was always Cader Idris.

The committee finally agreed to approve the signs, but for officers to hold further talks with the applicants regarding whether Cader or Cadair Idris should be used.

Approval was granted for nine signs in and around the Dôl Idris car park near Minffordd, Talyllyn, with ironically some of the smaller signs showing the actual walkers route to the mountain as Cader Idris.