Councillor Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, has agreed to commence the legal public consultation procedure for a clearway on the C2219 road between Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall. If no significant objections are raised, the clearway will be implemented.

C2219 Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant to Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall Clearway Order

Councillor Jackie Charlton agreed to commence the legal public consultation procedure for the proposed traffic regulation order creating a clearway on the C2219 as indicated on the plan at Appendix A of the public reports pack. If no substantive objections are received, the traffic movement prohibition order will be implemented in accordance with the Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996¹.

The clearway aims to address issues caused by a high number of visitors to the waterfall, particularly since the easing of COVID restrictions. The C2219 is the only access road to the waterfalls, and is narrow, becoming predominantly single-lane after the junction with the U5125, with limited passing opportunities.

The report notes that:

The large number of visitors to this location still causes significant issues along the road, and this is exacerbated by drivers parking their vehicles on the road. This is either to avoid paying the parking charge at the privately run Waterfall car park, the car park is full or closed or they are accessing the river after the waterfall where unofficial laybys have been formed which attract drivers to park indiscriminately within those laybys or within passing places along that road

The report also notes that emergency services have had difficulties accessing the waterfall in the past due to the congestion.

A temporary clearway order was previously in place during the COVID recovery period, funded by COVID recovery grants. While the popularity of the waterfalls may have lessened since then, congestion remains an issue.

The consultation and implementation will be funded from existing Traffic Management budgets. Councillor Aled Davies supports the proposal.