WHILE many of us might be tempted to opt for a duvet day or to wrap up warm and stay indoors, Powys council’s Countryside Services team have been getting out and about identifying jobs that need doing and calling in the relevant professionals and volunteers to help out.

With the spring season just around the corner, winter is the perfect time for getting on with vital jobs such as repairing country tracks and footpaths and mending, or in some cases quite literally building, bridges.

Of course the one problem is the weather – which as we have seen over the last week can be quite adverse even in March – but at least it means countryside routes that have to be closed while the work is carried out are being used less than they would in the tourist season.

In the last few weeks, Powys’s Countryside Services team have completed a number of projects that will ensure the mid Wales countryside is accessible and safe to wander in over the summer months.

In Ystradgynlais a new footbridge has been installed along a popular footpath.

Powys council’s Countryside Services team installed the footbridge along the public footpath that goes across Ystradgynlais’ Diamond Park and into the Wern Plemys Nature Reserve. The new structure has replaced the old and decaying footbridge.

New foundations were installed before the new footbridge was installed, which has been supplied by Caerfagu Products of Nantmel.

Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson, cabinet member for Countryside Services, said: “I’m delighted that walkers in this area will benefit from the new footbridge.

“Access to the site was challenging for staff from our Countryside Services team but their work provides a much needed improvement to this popular walking route in the community of Ystradgynlais.

“The importance of locally available public paths shouldn’t be underestimated. Our public rights of way network can play a vital role in maintaining the health and well-being of the people of Powys.”

An even more ambitious project has been completed between Rhayader and Llangurig where a popular footpath has re-opened after refurbishment works were carried out to a 40-year-old footbridge.

The timber and steel cable suspension bridge at Dernol is one of a handful of suspension footbridges that span the River Wye as it flows through the county.

Following a report from a member of the public and subsequent engineer’s assessment, the bridge was closed to the public pending safety repairs.

Although Powys council’s Countryside Volunteer team routinely undertakes repairs and replacements of timber footbridges on public rights of way, the unusual nature of this rural bridge and its sensitive location required more specialist skills.

The works involved a local contractor working from safety wires suspended above the bridge to enable the decking to be completely separated from the supporting cables. This technique also safeguarded the protected river habitat below and avoided the need for expensive scaffolding.

Speaking about this project, Cllr Wilkinson said: “This particular bridge posed an unusual challenge given its design and location but it’s now open to the public again thanks to the expertise of the local contractor and the kindness of the neighbouring landowner in assisting us with access.

“There are a huge number of footbridges on public rights of way across Powys. Local footpath networks connect us to our local community and beautiful countryside, and work to maintain them benefits both local residents and visitors alike. The positive response already received following these works demonstrates the value of local rural routes.”

The other project that the Countryside services team have highlighted is a package of improvements carried out to repair part of the ‘Strata Florida’ byway near Abergwesyn, Llanwrtyd Wells.

Classed as a Byway Open to All Traffic, the route is popular with motor vehicles and runs over the Cambrian Mountains and through the Tywi Forest between Powys and Ceredigion.

As part of the works, existing drainage channels that had become blocked were re-opened while sumps were filled in using mixed aggregate along the route to Tywi Forest from Nant Ystalwen Farm. The works were completed by local contractor RF Price of Howey, Llandrindod Wells.

Of this work Cllr Wilkinson said: “The works along a 2.5km stretch of this byway will be welcomed by all those who travel along the Strata Florida on a regular basis.

“Our Countryside Services team are planning to return to the site in the summer months to continue maintenance works through Twyi Forest and onto the Ceredigion border.

“The importance of maintaining our rights of way network shouldn’t be underestimated. Our public rights of way network can play a vital role in maintaining the health and well-being of the people of Powys.”

A council spokesman said all of the jobs would have been planned by the council’s Countryside Services team, who would then decide whether to use volunteers from the Countryside Volunteers team or contractors – depending on the type/scale of the job.

He said the Countryside Volunteers are managed by the Countryside Services team and all volunteers are provided with the necessary training to help carry out their role. Anyone interested in becoming a Countryside Volunteer should, in the first instance, visit the www.powys,gov.uk website and choose the ‘Volunteer to maintain public rights of way’ link.