AN OWNER of a farm park has called for Llandudno's famous goats to be sent away to an island only inhabited by gulls.

The mischievous wild goats are often seen in Craig-y-Don and towards West Shore, munching away on hedges. They are often seen taking a casual stroll across the roads.

In April, sadly a number of Kashmiri goats were killed after being hit on the A470 at Wormhout Way by a car.

Lyn Jenkins, who runs Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park with his wife Ellen, daughter, Joanne, and her husband David, wrote in a letter to the Pioneer: "I see that the Kashmiri goats of the Great Orme, Llandudno, are causing chaos on the A470 and private gardens all around the area. The solution is is simple! Why can't the RSPCA and Conwy council come to agreement with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and rehome them on 40-acre Cardigan Island, just 250 metres offshore of Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park, Gwbert, Cardigan?

"Only gulls have inhabited the island since the wild flock of Soay sheep [breed] died out a few years ago. There is abundant of ample grazing there for badly-behaved goats. The island needs grazing. Cattle and sheep used to summer-graze up to the 1950s.

"Kashmiri goats would be ideal company for puffins if some of the latter were also brought from Skomer Island. 

"Come on Welsh Government  - use a bit of initiative for once. Give the Wildlife Trust a reasonable small grant for the project!

"You'd solve two problems at once! You'd end the perennial rogue-goat problem of Llandudno and really enhance the tourist economy of Ceredigion and North Pembrokeshire in one simple fell swoop, with an extra attraction! What a bargain! How could you lose? I'm not kidding and neither will the goats if they're neutered."

Cardigan Island is a small uninhabited island, situated at the mouth of the Teifi estuary, 130m from the mainland, Cat its narrowest point, Carreg Lydan. It is 15 hectares (37 acres) in area, measuring about 700m from East to West and 100 - 350m from North to South. It is cliff-fringed but relatively level, with the highest point on the South West side at 52m above sea level. The whole of the Island is a Scheduled Monument (CD280) with archaeological features comprising two settlement enclosures, most likely prehistoric (Iron Age) in origin, a possible cairn and later features associated with the agricultural use of the island.

The island was purchased by the West Wales Wildlife Trust, now the Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales in 1963, having managed it since 1944. 

On Sunday, the Pioneer reported that a 'round up' exercise of the old Billie goats in Llandudno.

Following a meeting on March 13, the RSPCA confirmed that a routine round-up of the old Billies will occur later this year. This will allow the group to assess the health and welfare of the goats and provide contraceptives where necessary.

In 2020 and 2021, Llandudno's famous goats made the international news when they strayed further than usual because of the quieter conditions during Covid restrictions.

The goats on the Great Orme were originally a gift to Lord Mostyn from Queen Victoria and have roamed in a wild state for about 100 years. Although once in the ownership of Lord Mostyn, they are now regarded as wild animals and no one is legally responsible for them.

Conwy County Borough Council acts in the interests of the goats’ welfare when they are on their land.