Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority have upgraded over a kilometre of path alongside the river Wye in the town of Hay-on-Wye. The partnership project includes working with local resident and Paralympian, Josie Pearson, Hay Town Council and the Warren Trust.
The surface of the path has been improved and will improve accessibility, removing any barriers that prevent people from using the path.
The work is part of a larger national UK wide project called ‘miles without stiles’ that focuses on improving access to paths and infrastructure within the UK’s National Parks. The project is a response to those who find access to the countryside more difficult for a variety of reasons, including physical difficulty, being on low incomes, without their own transport and facing cultural or physiological barriers.
The work around Hay-on-Wye has been led by Josie Pearson who has been instrumental in negotiating with landowners and pushing the project forward, she said;
“National Parks are to be enjoyed by everyone and through improving accessibility, more people can be encouraged and will feel confident in getting outdoors and improving their well-being. I would like to thank everyone involved with the project including the great cooperation from landowners and farmers”.
The path improvements were funded by the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority and the Welsh Government’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan Funding Programme. Mel Doel, Chairman of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority added;
“The work we carry out in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park is closely linked with Welsh Government’s ‘Well-being of Future Generations Act’ that aims to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. This is another great project that will open up the Park to more people and remove any barriers that prevent them from enjoying the wonderful outdoors.”
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