Calling all residents of Glasbury & Hay!!!

If…

  1. you’re a resident in the Glasbury-on-Wye or Hay-on-Wye areas; and
  2. you care about whether paddlesport continues on the Wye from both these locations…

you might like to lobby your prospective local County and Community / Town Council nominees in advance of the forthcoming local elections on 5 May: they’re more likely to be receptive to your overtures when they think there could be votes in it!!!

Details of nominees are here: Find out about upcoming elections – Powys County Council

The key messages to get across are that:

  • paddlesport on the Wye brings visitors and income to the local area AND provides health and wellbeing benefits to local participants AND provides a great opportunity for outdoor educational experiences;
  • the suspension of paddlesport launching at Glas-y-Bont common by Powys County Council – since 1 April 2021 – while they conduct a Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) has caused (and is continuing to cause) a significant reduction in these opportunities as well as knock-on impacts in Hay while traffic has ‘moved downstream’: Powys County Council needs to be encouraged to complete the HRA process and work with paddlesport providers to enable resumption of launching at Glas-y-Bont Common as soon as possible;
  • the complete ‘closure’ of the Glasbury-Hay section of river to hire boat traffic each year during May and June (which has been advised by Natural Resources Wales to protect sensitive habitats) would result in a significant loss of income for hire businesses: Powys County Council needs to be encouraged to work with hire operators to explore alternative methods than ‘closure’ to protect sensitive habitats;
  • attempts by Hay Town Council to restrict paddlesport operations at The Gliss (to reduce conflict with residents and to address anticipated advice from NRW for ‘closure’ of the river from Hay to hire boat traffic during May and June) could result in significant adverse economic impact as well as additional administrative burdens for the Council, especially if not managed ‘properly’: Hay Town Council needs to be encouraged to work with paddlesport providers to agree a workable, ‘least restrictive’ approach to paddlesport operations at The Gliss and to explore alternative methods than ‘closure’ to protect sensitive habitats; and
  • SWOAPG is attempting to represent the interests of paddlesport providers on these issues and may be contacted for further information at coordinator@swoapg.com.

Do get in touch with us if you need any more background or have any questions…

Thanks!

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