Letter to the editor

Some years ago the verge on part of the very minor road heading west from Llanddew was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of the diversity of flowers found there.

Powys County Council, in its wisdom, have again mowed this length just when the flowers are blooming - in May - and as a result most have been killed off or uprooted.

This mindless vandalism is compounded by the contractor also cutting the side of large lengths of the hedge, this I am sure having a devastating effect on the small birds nesting there.

On the road going north from the village towards Llaneglwys there was a splendid show of orchids (more than 200 flower ) again this section of verge was said to be a SSSI. This May, Powys County Council have again trashed this short section, mowing just before the flowers have formed.

The effect has been that last year only 12 flowers showed, these being too far onto the side for the mower to smash them.

Who makes these mindless decisions and why do our elected officials not hold them to account?

Letter from: John Davies, Llanddew

Council response

The council told the B&R it has two sites around Llanddew that are on its roadside verge nature reserve (RVNR) list. These have a specific management plan. The sites are:

• B31 – C0057 West of Llanddew is Pont Cwm Anod RVNR

• B44 – C0060 North of Llanddew is Warle Pitch RVNR

These sites have specific management plans that are provided by the council’s ecologist. The management plans for both sites specific two two cuts a year – first before May 31 and the second cut during September/October.

The council said it has carried out the cuts during May, as per the management plan. They said that where there are obvious signs of flowers, the operator has raised the height of cut where possible to protect what is there.

The council said these sites were surveyed last autumn by Mid Wales Ecology and indications that the current management plan is improving site B31 and maintaining site B44. This suggests that the current management plan is working and benefitting the verges at these sites.