Welsh Farmers Issue Dire Warning as Landslide Leaves Villages Isolated for Over a Month
Farmers in rural Wales have issued a stark warning that their livestock could starve to death following a massive landslide that has left residents effectively trapped for more than thirty days. The villages of Cwmyoy and Llanthony in Monmouthshire have been completely cut off from the outside world since January 30, when a significant landslip severely damaged a critical local road.
Critical Supply Routes Blocked, Forcing Dangerous Detours
Residents are now forced to endure lengthy and treacherous journeys across Wales' highest mountain road, known as the Gospel Pass. This alternative route presents substantial challenges, particularly for agricultural suppliers whose heavy vehicles cannot safely navigate the steep and winding path. Monmouthshire County Council has yet to repair the damaged road, with their most recent update—published nearly two weeks ago—stating the route remains "extremely unsafe."
Local farmers are expressing growing frustration at the council's perceived lack of urgency. They argue that without swift action to restore access, their animals face imminent peril. Among them is Bryony Gittins, who manages a flock of 850 sheep. She has raised the alarm that her livestock are at severe risk if a solution is not implemented within weeks.
"I have huge concern about how I'm going to manage to keep the sheep food coming in that I need. The reliance on heavy agricultural vehicles is enormous," Gittins told BBC News. "I don't have enough hay to last until lambing season in April. They are entering a period where they require significantly higher nutritional intake."Pregnant Ewes and Newborn Lambs at Particular Risk
Gittins highlighted specific concerns for her pregnant ewes, which need additional concentrated feed soon to ensure their lambs are born strong and healthy. She warned that without adequate nutrition, the lambs will become "hungry and they'll get hungrier and hungrier," leaving farmers with nothing to feed them.
The economic impact extends beyond livestock welfare. Chris Powell, an agricultural contractor, has suffered substantial income loss because large vehicles like tractors cannot traverse the Gospel Pass. Powell is advocating for an emergency alternative route to be established using fields adjacent to the landslide site.
"A temporary diversion could be implemented in less than a week, allowing residents to maintain access and businesses to operate normally while the situation is stabilized," he asserted.Emergency Services Face Severe Delays, Putting Lives at Risk
The road closure has created a critical public safety crisis, with emergency services experiencing major disruptions. Ambulances and fire engines are now forced to take lengthy detours via Hay-on-Wye, resulting in response journeys of up to two hours to reach the nearest accident and emergency department.
Michelle Turner, a Llanthony resident, reported that there have already been multiple medical emergencies in the valley, including incidents requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In at least one case, barriers had to be removed to allow emergency vehicle access.
"We all pay council tax, yet we have effectively been cut off with little warning, inadequate communication, and no clear or safe plan to protect residents' welfare," Turner stated, adding that the community "feels profoundly let down" by the local council's response.Council Cites Extreme Safety Risks, Warns Against Ignoring Closure
Monmouthshire County Council has established a dedicated webpage to provide updates on the situation. In their latest communication, officials explained that the landslide has created a vertical edge immediately adjacent to the carriageway, meaning any further movement could occur beneath the road surface. The tarmac might conceal signs of collapse until a sudden failure happens.
"For this reason, the road remains extremely unsafe," the council emphasized. Specialist geotechnical engineers have inspected the site, and based on their assessment—along with continued deterioration—the road must stay closed due to serious public safety risks.
The council also noted that some members of the public have moved concrete barriers and signage to continue using the road, urging people not to ignore the closure. They confirmed the road will remain shut until a "safe, engineered solution can be designed and delivered." The Daily Mail has approached Monmouthshire County Council for further comment.
