Crisis does not justify draconian powers
WE face a serious health crisis with Covid 19, and we need to take it seriously.
My concern is with what I feel is an overreaction by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority in closing many public footpaths in their area.
The Welsh Government legislation which was rushed through with little oversight was seized upon by the BBNP within hours to issue notices closing many public footpaths. In fact, this was done at midday on Wednesday March 25.
They didn’t seem to give much thought to anyone who was out walking on hills near their homes on that day. I had the misfortune to be returning home on that afternoon only to be confronted by an irate farmer near Crickhowell who prevented me continuing on my journey home (10 minutes) stating all footpaths were closed and I had better turnaround and head back up the hill. In response to how I was to get home he had no answer or interest.
The argument is that these closures are necessary to deter visitors from descending on the park as they had the previous weekend. The closure of car parks should have been sufficient to deter visitors from outside of the National Park, but no, it seems they also had to close most footpaths as well.
The affect of doing this was to impact on local people taking their daily exercise, to force them into closer contact with others on what few public spaces are still available.
There is also an issue of discrimination taking place for those of us living in a National Park as opposed to those living outside of these areas. Most footpaths in other parts of Powys and in other counties remain open.
This is the situation as I write, but I observe the Farmers Union of Wales are putting further pressure on Welsh Government to try and get even more restrictions applied on those of us who like to take a walk.
There are many health benefits both physical and mental from getting out and walking in the countryside and I don’t believe the present Covid 19 crisis justifies even more draconian powers being taken. Mike McCarthy
Crickhowell