Working for Powys Walkers
Posts tagged Powys
Volunteers Help to Improve Routes in Powys
Volunteers have been helping to improve local walking trails in Powys. Working alongside the council’s Countryside Services team, volunteers have already been carrying out work in Crossgates, Llanbadarn Fawr and Abbeycwmhir. 
The work is being carried out as part of Powys County Council’s Circular Trails Project which aims to create 12 new circular trails within communities around Powys.
The project is concentrating on more remote areas of Powys where there is little rights of way provision. The Project Officer is currently working with communities in Abbeycwmhir, Nantmel, St Harmon, Llangyniew and Trefeglwys. Powys County Council’s Circular Trails Officer Kevin Straw, said:
I would like to thank all those volunteers who took part through the day and I look forward to continue working with them throughout the remainder of the project.
The Circular Trails Project is funded through the European Union as part of the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013.
Clampdown on illegal off-roaders
Police have joined forces with other agencies in a crackdown on illegal off-roaders and fly-tipping in Powys.
Dyfed-Powys Police already have a dedicated officer, but they say the growing problem has forced agencies to team up and form a new group. 
A police Land Rover and two motorbikes will be used to track down those breaking the law in rural areas.
Powys council said there had been an increase in illegal off-roading during the past 10 years.
Powys Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), which consists of the council, police, Brecon Beacons National Park, the Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales, will be working closely to tackle “this rapidly growing problem”.
PCSP said Powys’ rurality made it difficult for 4×4 vehicles to catch law breakers, but now they will be using off-road motorcycles as well.
More information from BBC Mid Wales
Tackling Illegal Off-roading in the Elan Valley
Brecon Beacons National Park begins crackdown on illegal off roaders
Broadcaster Memorial Vandalised
The BBC has reported that a vandalised memorial to the “charismatic” BBC wartime radio and television broadcaster Wynford Vaughan-Thomas is to be restored.
The slate memorial highlights some of Wales’ highest peaks, including Snowdon, and was unveiled near Machynlleth, Powys, in 1990. Image by Dogfael via Flickr
But since then it has fallen into disrepair and has been vandalised.
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) is to start a campaign to restore the monument.
The BBC report can be seen here
Changes to Llandinam Windfarm
Plans have been unveiled in Powys to turn one of the largest wind farms in the UK into one of the tallest.
The companies behind the scheme want to replace 103, 45-metre (149ft) tall turbines in Llandinam, near Newtown, with 42, 122-metre (400ft) machines.
They said the redevelopment would treble the output of “clean, green energy” at the mid Wales site.
But objectors claim the new turbines could have a detrimental visual impact on the landscape.
More details here
