Outdoor Alliance writes to Welsh Government about closures to paths and access land

Members of the Outdoor Alliance (including SWOAPG) wrote on Monday to the Welsh Government expressing our concerns about the ‘blanket’ closure of footpaths and access land in Wales during the Covid-19 crisis. The letter asks the Government to provide clearer information for the public about what areas are closed and about what they regard as … Read more

Emergency Measures to footpaths and car parks in the Brecon Beacons National Park

As most of you will be aware, following the irresponsible behaviour of some people last weekend, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority – working in cooperation with the local authorities and other partners – has closed areas of the National Park which are popular with visitors and which pose a risk for the transmission of coronavirus. … Read more

Technical Advisers

SWOAPG itself does not offer Technical Advice (for the likes of AALA inspections). However, we are occasionally asked to recommend Technical Advisers to our Members. Since we would not wish to favour one Technical Adviser over another, we are not able to make specific recommendations – but we are now listing on our website (https://swoapg.com/technical-advisers) … Read more

Forthcoming events from SWOAPG & our Members

In view of the current Covid-19 restrictions, SWOAPG is cancelling all its near-term events (including ‘drop-in surgeries’ for the community in Pontneddfechan) and we can assume that our Members will also be cancelling any events they had advertised with us in the next couple of months at least. We will therefore be suspending for the … Read more

Car Park Closures

Perhaps overtaken by the most recent announcements by the Prime Minister, but… …Natural Resources Wales has informed us that it is closing Car parks in waterfall country, these include Pont Melin Fach, Gwaun Hepste, Dinas Rock, Blaen Llia and we understand Cwm Porth is also closed.

SWOAPG Membership Fees and Covid-19

SWOAPG Directors met on 23 Mar to discuss concerns that had been raised about us asking for Membership fees in these difficult times. The Directors appreciate that this is a very difficult time for all of us; that many Members may already be struggling financially; and that many of you will not now be accessing … Read more

WATO Position on Covid-19

Although we have already said we don’t want to inundate SWOAPG Members’ inboxes with yet more messages on the subject, we thought it was important to let you know the action that WATO (Wales Adventure Tourism Organisation – of which SWOAPG is one of the three Core Members) is taking to support your interests – … Read more

SWOAPG Membership Subscriptions

Many thanks to the one-third of SWOAPG Members who have already paid your annual subscriptions – this will already provide us with enough income to keep our Coordinator on-hand for the time-being. We do appreciate that we are asking for subscriptions at a time when many of you may already be struggling financially as a … Read more