Calls to close more footpaths as North Wales farmer counts 200 walkers on his land in one day

Concerns have been raised over the number of people walking across farmland during the coronavirus outbreak.

It follows one worried farmer from North Wales counting 200 people strolling across his property on Saturday, despite the COVID-19 lockdown.

The issue has now been raised by Plaid Cymru’s shadow rural affairs minister, who said the closure of the more popular tourist paths was “a very welcome decision”.

But regional AM Llyr Gruffydd said farmers with family members in the high-risk category were still seeing large numbers of people coming into the countryside at the weekend.

He has written to Welsh Government minister Hannah Blythyn seeking clarification on other public footpaths and the dangers posed by people continuing to use them.

He said: “Constituents have contacted me expressing serious concerns that they are at an increased risk of infection from the large amounts of people now using paths on their land, particularly when those paths pass across farmyards or near their homes.

“One constituent in particular has a young child who suffers from cystic fibrosis and is therefore deemed to be at severe risk from Covid-19.

“The family counted over 200 walkers along footpaths on their farm on Saturday alone.

“As you can imagine, this is an immensely busy time for the family as they’re in the middle of the lambing season.

“It means they continually need to move around the farm checking their stock. In doing so they regularly come across walkers who are using the same gates and styles as the family.

“They’re seriously concerned that this significantly increases their risk of infection resulting in a subsequent increased risk to the life of their young son.”

Mr Gruffydd has now urged the Welsh Government to take further action relating to access to public paths on farmland in order to protect the most vulnerable during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He added: “I’m not calling on the Welsh Government to close down all such paths, but I would urge them to seriously consider restricting access where it could directly put those who are most vulnerable at greater risk.”