We escorted former Brecon & Radnorshire MP Fay Jones on a visit to the Trod last May, and she was very sympathetic to the concerns raised by local farmers about the intrusion and risk to stock as well as pedestrians from irresponsible use of trail bikes on and around the track.

She then promptly lost her seat in the General Election, so we’re starting again with new MP David Chadwick. We’ll be seeing him at his constituency surgery in April to explain why the whole idea of upgrading a Medieval track way, engineered for pedestrians and horse riders, to make it more suitable for motorised transport is so misconceived.

Meanwhile, the Council has extended the temporary Traffic Restraining Order for a further 6 months while it carries out its Habitat Assessments and similar work as necessary pre-conditions for going ahead with its plans. In the face of a duty under the Environment Act to aim to improve and not reduce biodiversity and seek to further the resilience of ecosystems, this is baffling. To comply with the duty the Council is required to consider the diversity of species and habitats, the extent, state, connectivity of ecosystems and their ability to deal with and recover from unexpected events for example the impacts of climate change. When millions of pounds are being spent across Wales’ uplands in attempting to re-wet degraded peat, a decision to allow some of this dangerously scarce resource to be carved up – inevitably speeding up the drying process – for the entertainment of a small minority of the public, makes no sense at all.