Welsh wary of English invasion after Unesco spotlight falls on ‘Britain’s Machu Picchu’

Welsh-speaking residents of the "British Machu Picchu" fear Wales’s newest Unesco site will attract too many English tourists.

The slate landscape of North West Wales, known for the historic quarrying of the building material, has been accredited as the UK’s newest world heritage site.

But local campaigners in Gwynedd have warned that this could cause an influx of tourists to the area and turn Welsh communities into “ghost towns”.

Incoming English speakers could buy up more second homes and make the area a “playground” for holidaymakers at the expense of residents, according to language campaign group Cylch Yr Iaith.

Howard Huws, a spokesman for the group, told The Telegraph: "We're facing the perfect storm. We’ve got rocketing house prices that are turning Welsh-speaking communities into ghost towns because of people being priced out.

"Now we have this additional effect of a world heritage site, which is going to bring people, buying holiday homes and second homes.

"Some people might be rejoicing, but I’m afraid all that is a house built on sand. The cultural and community basis of our culture is being eroded away further and further.

"It may be a great boost to the heritage industry, as they call it, but it has a dire effect. We can’t survive as a playground or a holiday park. We need what tourism can’t give us.”

Slate has been quarried in the hills of Gwynedd for almost 2,000 years. Production boomed in the 19th century, and eventually the region serviced the growing demand for roofing created by the Industrial Revolution.

Extensive quarrying left behind a transformed landscape and distinctive architecture, as well as technical contributions to extraction and advancements in mountain railways.

Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, backed the bid for Unesco status, which was also welcomed by Mark Drakeford, the Welsh First Minister, but Mr Huws believes the new accreditation leaves the area “at risk of overtourism”.

He added: "The slate industry boomed for about 200 years, but the community has been here for 2,000 years.”

The slate landscape is the UK’s latest addition to the Unesco list, and comes after Liverpool lost its status due to the development of its historic waterfront.