Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to consider closing rural footpaths during the Covid-19 crisis to enable people to maintain the two metre social distancing rule.
Darren has been contacted by some concerned members of the farming community regarding the increased use of public footpaths now that people are on lockdown and allowed to exercise once a day, and the dangers that this may pose to farmworkers and walkers at this time.
He has therefore written to the Welsh Government to ask them consider closing rural footpaths during the crisis.
He said:
“When walkers use footpaths they often have to open and close gates, climb styles or even have to walk through people’s gardens. Such activity gives a risk of contamination to the things they touch or the people they walk past, often on narrow footpaths which are unable to enable people to maintain the two metre social distancing rule.
“I am also led to believe that many people are inappropriately using the rural footpath network to stray far from home which is not keeping with the Government’s advice to stay at home and only leave when absolutely necessary.
“Given the above I have approached the Welsh Government to request that consideration be given to closing rural footpaths during the current Coronavirus crisis.”