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Powys County Times
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
Groe footpath in Builth Wells to be partly closed next month
A FOOTPATH in the popular Groe area of Builth Wells will be partly cut off to the public for one day next month due to a popular motorsport event being held in town that day. The Nicky Grist Stages Rally comes to Builth on Saturday, July 12, which will require the closure of part of the Groe footpath for the day. The section of path that will not be accessible is 210 metres long and runs adjacent to North Road and Church Street, from the Alpha Chapel access point to Builth's Ysgol Calon Cymru campus. 'We have received the following notification from Powys County Council regarding an upcoming short term temporary closure of public rights of way, which is needed due the Nicky Grist Stages Rally motorsport event on 12th July,' said Builth Wells Town Council in a post on its Facebook page. 'Paths to be closed (are) Footpath 8, Builth Wells, from SO040510 to SO038512, for approximately 210 metres. 'Alternative route: Follow Church Street then North Road to entrance to Builth Groe at play area and vice versa. 'By way of explanation, Powys County Council adopted a revised protocol for authorising motorsport events on March 3, 2020, which now requires that public rights of way be closed for the duration of a motorsport event.' Organisers of the rally confirmed last month that the stage would be returning to Builth. With the rally so start in Strand Street while the finish will be on the banks of the River Wye, and the service area will be located on the Groe, on the town's rugby pitch. 'I am delighted that we have got what is probably the most-liked stage of the Nicky Grist Stages back in the 2025 edition – Route 60,' said Nicky Grist. 'Route 60 is such a fantastic stage with wonderful high speed and flowing corners that nearly everyone enjoys. 'I was also overjoyed when we found out that Storm Darragh did not affect us anywhere near as badly as other stages in Wales and I am looking forward to catching up with everyone at the event in Builth Wells in July.' 'At the beginning of the year there were some doubts as to whether we would be able to run the 2025 Nicky Grist Stages, thanks to the damage caused in the Welsh forests by Storm Darragh and military training operations combining to seriously curtail the stage mileage available to us on both NRW and MOD land,' admits Neil Cross, the clerk of the course. 'However, with the invaluable co-operation and hard work of NRW, the MOD and Rally4Wales we have instead put together a fantastic route.' Organisers thanked Powys County Council, Builth Wells Town Council, Builth Wells Rugby Club and local businesses and residents for their support. Further details about the 2020 protocol can be found at
Belfast Telegraph
09-06-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Two masked paramilitary figures painted as work nears completion on infamous UVF mural blown down in Storm Darragh
Two masked paramilitary figures have been painted on a loyalist terror mural as work nears completion on restoring the Belfast wall which was blown over in a storm last year. Images from the infamous mural on the Mount Vernon estate in the north of the city show the final touches being added to the site which was badly damaged as a result of Storm Darragh last December.
Agriland
09-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Stapleton outlines challenges facing Forest Windblow Taskforce
The Irish Farmers' Association's (IFA) forestry chair, Pardraic Stapleton has said that the number of truck drivers is 'biggest overall challenge' facing the Forest Windblow Taskforce. Stapleton told Agriland that industry is working with international recruitment firms for drivers, but getting work permits is a concern. He said: 'The likes of South Africa is favourable as a country to go and get drivers. They drive on the same side of the road. 'To get work permits in is a bit of a process, a lot of those permits go through the same department as asylum seekers. That department is, I would say, overloaded with work. We would hope that there is some accommodation made on that score. That is the big one, whether we can overcome it or not, I don't know,' Stapleton explained. According to Stapleton, 'the clock is ticking' to lift timber that was damaged by Storm Éowyn and Storm Darragh earlier this year. 'Timber on the ground is a perishable commoditiy. It is a concern, whether we have the capacity to get through it or not. It is all down to how we are able, as a country, to get drivers,' Stapleton said. 'There is recruitment going on, but it's trying to get them trained up before they come here, and assimilate into the way we work, our rules of the road, what to expect, that work is going on over there.' 'If it is a thing they are not allowed onto the road until they are fully permitted, it's going to be too late. It's going to need a whole of government approach to get timber lifted off the ground,' Stapleton added. Forest Windblow Taskforce Stapleton also said, that no compensation has been given to forestry farmers impacted by windblow earlier this year. However, Stapleton welcomed the commitment of the Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Michael Healy-Rae that there will be a reconstitution grant. Stapleton said: 'We have gone to the taskforce with out concerns. We do not have the capacity to replant that amount of land within the two year timeframe that a license requires. 'I welcome the fact that the minister has given a bit of leeway on this, and he will allow time for that work to commence. Anyone picking up their timber now, will also be eligible for the reconstitution grant. That's a huge weight off.' 'The volume of timber on the ground is a long way off where it should have been. The economics of picking up that timber now, and replanting it without a reconstitution grant, it's not financially viable,' the IFA chair added.
Times
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Times
Michail Antonio set for return amid West Ham contract standoff
Michail Antonio hopes to return to action in the next few weeks, six months after the West Ham United forward broke his leg in a car crash. The 35-year-old has earmarked playing for Jamaica in the Concacaf Gold Cup, which takes place from June 14 to July 6 in Canada and the United States. Jamaica will play Guatemala a week on Tuesday followed by Guadeloupe and Panama in Group C. Antonio is keen to play in the tournament to prove that he has returned to fitness and earn a new contract at West Ham. His deal, worth more than £90,000 a week, expires this month and he has rejected the club's offer of a short-term contract, which included a modest basic wage and further money on appearances. He wants more guaranteed money in a longer-term deal. The impasse over the contract might be one reason Antonio took to social media on Sunday to hint he could be leaving. He posted a picture of him clutching the Conference League trophy, won by the club in 2023, and a video charting his recovery from the car crash. His £260,000 grey Ferrari went off the road and hit a tree during Storm Darragh in Epping Forest, Essex, on December 7 after West Ham training. He broke his femur bone in four places and after surgery was discharged from hospital on New Year's Eve. The posted footage begins showing the wreckage of his Ferrari, with a voice asking how he escaped. It then shows him initially shuffling, then walking, using crutches through to the later stages of his rehabilitation, including working with the ball at the club's training ground in Essex. The video is set to inspirational comments from motivational speaker Inky Johnson. 'Faith will overcome all challenges,' Antonio writes in the caption of the video. Antonio said he was '100 per cent sure' he would play again despite the severity of his injury. In May he told L'Equipe: 'The question is whether the club wants to extend my contract. That's my priority, but I'm waiting. Until then, all I can do is focus on my recovery so that, wherever I am next year, I can deliver.'
Wales Online
08-06-2025
- Wales Online
I did this easy Welsh hike and ended up swimming under a huge waterfall
I did this easy Welsh hike and ended up swimming under a huge waterfall These impressive falls lie at the northern tip of Lake Vyrnwy within an RSPB Reserve There's nothing quite like cold water and a dramatic Welsh backdrop to remind you of the incredible natural world and how lucky we are to be a part of it (Image: Portia Jones ) As an avid outdoor swimmer (yes, I am one of those people; yes, I have a dryrobe) I love epic waterfall swims and in Wales we have plenty of swim spots in scenic surroundings. While visiting the hugely-underrated Lake Vyrnwy area in mid Wales I heard rumours about an easy walk to a cascading waterfall not far from the shores of the reservoir. Always keen for a dip I consulted the AllTrails app and found an easy hike to the secluded Rhiwargor Waterfall. Popular with locals these impressive falls lie at the northern tip of Lake Vyrnwy within the RSPB reserve. Although often overlooked in favour of the towering 80m Pistyll Rhaeadr they offer an equally striking spectacle. Pistyll Rhiwargor, with its total drop of 100m, is listed as the seventh-highest in Wales and is sustained by the tributary waters of Afon Eiddew, originating from the Berwyn mountains above Llyn Tegid in Y Bala, before eventually joining the reserves of Llyn Vyrnwy. The picturesque waterfall is part of RSPB Cymru's Llyn Vyrnwy Nature Reserve and you'll find convenient free parking less than a mile off the B4393 offering picnic tables and typically ample room for cars, especially if you visit on a weekday. The picturesque waterfall is part of RSPB Cymru's Llyn Vyrnwy Nature Reserve (Image: Portia Jones ) The 1.5-mile walk to the falls is considered an easy route, taking around 45 minutes to an hour to complete. If you follow the trail on the AllTrails app it will take you along Afon Eiddew to the picturesque Rhiwargor Falls, also known as Pistyll Rhyd-y-meinciau. As it's a hike to the falls you'll need to carry all your outdoor swim gear with you so make sure you have a big backpack and bring plenty of warm layers for after your dip. There are also no facilities here so make sure you have a well-timed loo stop before you set off. The trail begins at the aforementioned car park (Rhiwargor Waterfall Car Park), which is accessible via a scenic drive along the lakeside road. Once you arrive at the car park use a map or a hiking app to navigate the verdant valley floor path to the waterfalls. Hafren Dyfrdwy, which manages the parking site, has spent the last four months carrying out major restoration works after Storm Darragh caused significant damage. They recently announced that the car park has reopened and that Blue Monday Coffee is back selling hot drinks, cakes, and snacks from the Rhiwargor car park each weekend. Tidy. With the promise of sunshine it was an ideal morning for a dip so I convinced my long-suffering husband that, yes, there was yet another waterfall we simply must swim in and hopped in the car. The morning we arrived the weather was unseasonably scorchio with blue skies and warm sunshine – perfect outdoor swim weather. I grabbed my gear and we headed up the trail, passing a meandering stream and gnarly trees. It's a fairly easy trek and I've certainly undertaken more arduous walks to reach waterfalls before. We followed a well-maintained path along the Afon Eiddew River with undulating sections through woodland and along the riverbank towards the sounds of the cascading falls. The morning we arrived the weather was unseasonably scorchio with blue skies and warm sunshine (Image: Portia Jones ) We soon reached the base of the falls, which seemed like a perfect spot for a post-swim picnic. Although we were visiting on a sunny day the area was still quite boggy so we had to carefully navigate the muddy sections on the left-hand side to reach the famous 'private' pools for a swim. It can be a bit of a scramble so you'll definitely want hiking boots to get up the falls and you'll need to watch out for slippery parts. Rather than a sheer drop the waterfall cascades down in a series of staggered stages into the river below with a craggy woodland hugging the falls. It's at these rocky stages that you can find small swimming spots with the roar of the waterfall above you. I soon found us a perfect pool that was deep enough to paddle in with no-one else around despite the glorious weather. I slipped off my boots, wriggled into my swim gear (a childhood spent changing on Welsh beaches fully prepared me for this), and plunged into the bracing waters. I soon found us a perfect pool that was deep enough to paddle in with no-one else around despite the glorious weather (Image: Portia Jones ) As usual the slight shock of wading into chilly water hit me first – a thrilling zing of cold that made me gasp and laugh all at once. But then came that glorious rush of feeling of a connection to nature and my surroundings. The water is also incredibly clear here and I could easily see to the bottom in parts of this refreshing pool. There's something wildly freeing about swimming beneath a waterfall with the roar in your ears and the spray on your face. It's like pressing a giant reset button on all your life's stresses and endless emails. (Will I ever reach inbox zero? Probably not – but who cares when you're floating in crystal-clear waters?) There's something wildly freeing about swimming beneath a waterfall (Image: Portia Jones ) Outdoor swimming always helps clear my head but this scenic waterfall spot takes it to a whole new level. Pure lush. It was incredibly peaceful – I could feel the stress melting away. I know it might sound a bit woo-woo but, honestly, give it a go next time you're feeling frazzled. You might be surprised at how quickly nature sorts you out. Besides the boffins agree. Several studies have shown that the health and wellbeing benefits of taking a cold water plunge include an immune system boost, improved sleep, a better stress response, and increased happiness. Who doesn't want to nap better? For me there's nothing quite like cold water and a dramatic Welsh backdrop to remind you of the incredible natural world and how lucky we are to be a part of it. After a languid swim it was time to head back to the hotel, the fabulous Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa (read my review here), for dinner and a drink on their spectacular outdoor terrace. Located in a 24,000-acre estate on a forested hillside overlooking a dramatic, mountain-ringed lake this swish hotel commands one of the most impressive views of Lake Vyrnwy reservoir and has been wowing visitors since 1890. It's an ideal base for exploring the area and is ideally positioned for panoramic views across the water and an alpine-looking landscape. Perched above the reservoir you're just a short walk or drive from a nature reserve, forested trails, and cascading waterfalls. The view from the hotel (Image: Portia Jones ) So would I recommend a waterfall dip at Pistyll Rhiwargor? In a heartbeat. It's become one of my favourite spots in Wales for a rejuvenating outdoor swim. Just remember to treat this stunning spot with utmost care, take your rubbish home, avoid peak holiday times if possible, and be mindful of others enjoying this beautiful spot (no speakers blasting your terrible music choices, yeah?). Let's keep this spot special for everyone for many years to come. Keen to swim? Here are some of my top tips and safety considerations. Cold water swimming tips Wild swimming can be challenging due to cold water and potentially hazardous terrain (Image: Portia Jones ) Try to always swim with a friend if you can and always let people know where you are going. The What3Words app is really useful for sharing locations in remote areas. Before heading out for an outdoor swimming session check the weather and the approximate water temperature of the location to ensure you are properly prepared. If you're new to outdoor swimming consider a supervised swim session to try swimming in a controlled environment first. Beautiful Llandegfedd Lake (on the border of Monmouth and Torfaen) offers supervised open-water swimming and dipping sessions with lifeguard-trained staff in attendance. Several weekly sessions are held in a designated area for controlled open-water swimming and dipping following accreditation from the Swim Wales SAFE Cymru Accreditation Scheme. Swim kit Having a decent swim kit to stay warm and comfortable in cold waters is also really important. (Image: Portia Jones ) Having a decent swim kit to stay warm and comfortable in cold waters is also really important. The water here can be really cold so ensure you have adequate gear for an outdoor swim and are wearing decent water shoes (so you don't hurt your feet on the rocks). Article continues below If swimming in the autumn or winter dippers should consider items such as a decent winter wetsuit, booties, gloves, and a swim hat to reduce the impact of icy waters. Other essential items include a tow float, warm layers, and a weatherproof changing robe.
