Penallt Footpath Group - 5 years on
The following account is based on a report to TUCC tabled for its December 2024 meeting:-
The Penallt Footpath Group (PFG) was set up in March 2019 following encouragement from Brian Mahony of The Narth and District Footpath Group. Our first activity was to survey all 37 km of paths in the ward. At the time, this identified the need for repairs or maintenance to 33 finger-posts, 23 stiles, 6 landing stones and 2 gates. The need for significant path clearance and some 200 waymarks to aid route finding was also highlighted.
With guidance from MCC, we prioritised the work on the basis of paths that formed part of through-routes, circular routes within the ward, and routes featuring local pubs and stops along the 65 bus route. We have published guides to several of these routes which can be accessed via the Penallt Village website here.
This page is consistently one of the most visited pages on the website.
The footpath group currently has seven members and meets on an approximately monthly basis. It coordinates regular volunteer work parties which undertake path clearance, finger-post installation and waymarking activities. The images above (click each for a full-sized version) illustrate a fraction of this. Some of the work is performed with participation from MCC officers, but the vast majority of it is done on a self-led basis. All paths are regularly re-surveyed to ensure they are passable, and that where route descriptions exist, they remain up-to-date.
During 2023, TUCC purchased an electric brushcutter for the group together with the necessary PPE. This has greatly improved our ability to effectively clear the brambles and woody growth which affect many of our paths. In January 2024, two PFG members attended an MCC-organised training course on the operation, maintenance and safe use of brushcutters and line trimmers. Other members will have received the same training before the end of 2024. With the original battery and a new increased-capacity battery loaned by MCC, the brushcutter can operate for around 2.5 hours in typical usage before the batteries are exhausted.
To date in 2024 we have logged 220 person-hours of work contributed by 10 volunteers. This covers path clearance, post and stile installation, surveys, training and meetings.
The group is grateful to TUCC for supporting its activities.
The group is always on the lookout for new members. See Footpath Group Working Party for details of the next meeting.