State of Trehafren Fields defended

An organisation looking after public green spaces in the town has defended concern over the state of part of Trehafren Fields in Newtown.

Some users of the fields had raised concern over a mess left by heavy machinery operating in the area.

Open Newtown, which manages the area along with many more in the town, said the work is to create new pathways and the mess has been caused by the wet weather over recent weeks.

In a statement, it said: "We are actively addressing the current conditions at Trehafren Fields as we carry out new accessway improvements across the park. 

"We recognize the impact our work has had on the grounds and are committed to resolving these issues. 

"We are still mid-contract and therefore have not left site, with our contractors only taking a short break while the weather was impacting works."

The statement added: "These improvements, funded by the The Heritage Lottery Fund, are designed to enhance biodiversity, accessibility, connectivity, and educational opportunities within the park. 

"The new pathways are a key part of this work, aimed at making the parkland more accessible for everyone.

"Installing these pathways has required heavy equipment on-site, and we scheduled the work for autumn, anticipating lower foot traffic and hoping for dry conditions.

"However, like many others, we’ve been affected by high rainfall, which has impacted the ground more than expected. 

"We are collaborating with our contractor to restore the area asap. 
This includes ground reinstatement with woodchip for the most affected spots, along with additional emergency measures where the pathway is most impacted. 

"As part of the project, we’ll be strategically planting trees to help manage drainage in wetter areas.

"We appreciate your understanding as we finalise these upgrades. While there may be some temporary disruptions, we believe the long-term benefits will far outweigh the short-term inconveniences. Thank you for your patience."

Photo: The area affected (Photo by Open Newtown via Facebook)