Powys keen to offload Bull Dingle

The controversy surrounding the mass felling of trees in the Bull Dingle this summer has taken another twist with Powys County Council saying it would be happy to asset transfer the site to any organisation or body that would be keen to manage its future.

The wooded area just off Borfa Green hit the headlines following the major tree felling operation that saw hundreds of trees removed following safety concerns dating back to 2011.

And, at last night’s Welshpool Town Council meeting, Powys representatives made a detailed presentation in response to what one senior officer described: “In 22 years (of working for Powys), I have never seen such a response from all angles.”

Also, the Welshpool county councillor for Llanerchydol Ward, Graham Breeze, gave an in-depth address (carried below) and said that he had personally received “unacceptable abuse from many who chose to use Facebook and hide behind keyboards to abuse those in public office”.

One of the lead opposers to the project, Sally Gartell, who launched a Facebook page called STOP the Destruction in Bull Dingle Welshpool! responded to last night’s meeting by saying: “I am extremely disappointed with what I saw and heard. Our local councillors shared many of our questions but still didn’t get adequate answers in my opinion.”

You can read her full response here.

The Town Council was addressed by Mark Davies, Housing Quality Services Manager, for Powys County Council, who explained that the authority is legally responsible for the land and preventing harm to people and property.

He said that £33,552 had been spent on addressing individual issues since 2011 as well as several insurance claims including a conservatory subsiding. But he added that this latest project had cost a “considerable amount more than that”.

He stressed that the issue became urgent in 2023 when a tree fell onto a garage roof, close to a property.

“This meant the urgency in terms of danger of life which we take very seriously,” he said.

He also said that a high voltage Scottish Power cable needed a five-metre channel cutting through the dingle, but their engineers raised concerns during a site visit after seeing how many trees had already fallen by resting on other trees that could also take down the line outside of the 5m channel.

Mr Davies also reminded councillors about the hospital flooding in 2018, blamed on a blocked culvert in the dingle.

But in discussion with town councillors, he mentioned several times that the County Council would be open to discussion with a group or organisation for them to take over the management of the site, adding that they could even input as to how the replanting should happen. That replanting is due to take place in November.

Town councillors were keen to know what happened to the wood and whether it was sold by the County Council to offset the costs, but Mr Davies explained that its disposal was part of the contract with the company that carried out the work.

Powys County Council has previously said it would review its communications with the public following the outrage that started on commencement of the work, but Mr Davies said that no complaints were received after 121 letters were sent out initially informing residents earlier this year.

“Until we started on site there were no issues to deal with but, since, it has been coming in thick and fast,” he said. “In 22 years (at Powys County Council) I have never seen such a response from all angles. It has been really, really hard to try and get all the answers as a lot of the questions were the same but from a different angle.

“So, due to the high numbers, that is why we haven’t been able to reply to each and every one within the 10 days due to the volume.”

Cllr Bill Rowell, who lives adjacent to the Bull Dingle, said that he was one of the residents still waiting for answers to his questions.

And Cllr Alison Davies shared the Town Council’s frustration that they were in “complete ignorance” with no idea that the work was taking place and that “had the Town Council known, it would have appeared in the local media and more people would have been aware”.

You can view the full debate by clicking here.

What Cllr Graham Breeze said at the meeting

“The Bull Dingle has been subject to safety concerns since I was elected just under nine years ago. Last two years, those safety concerns have increased greatly with many residents approaching me for help as their county councillor.

“Those approaches have included a conservatory being pulled away from a property caused by the roots of a large oak tree. Shed and garden subsidence with two properties losing 70 square feet of garden space each. Falling and diseased trees, loss of sunlight, trees falling onto properties, loss of TV connectivity, and, of course, the flooding of Welshpool hospital caused by blockages to the stream running through the dingle.

“All those reports were passed onto Powys County Council with a request for action to be taken.

“In 2024, letters were distributed to residents informing them that work was going to start to address the issues but the work was delayed. I personally delivered new letters to residents on Croft Road and Borfa Green dated May 25, 2025, speaking to as many as possible. In fact, visiting some properties on three occasions without getting a response.

“Ahead of work starting, I was given a full briefing of the work and I was assured then that all required legal processes were in place and that clearance was given by Natural Resources Wales for work to begin.

“I have regularly challenged and scrutinised officers and have been given sight of all the required documentation, licensing and wildlife reports. That includes NRW licenses to carry out the clearance works.

“Due to their urgent nature and impossible conditions for contractors to be more selective in the felling process. I have also ensured that a full replanting programme is carried out under NRW guidelines and that a regular maintenance programme is put in place. You will know that Powys County Council doesn’t have the funding to carry out such hugely costly projects unless there was an urgent need.

“In 2018, tree debris caused the blocking of Bull Dingle culvert during flash flooding, leading to the flooding and subsequent closure of Welshpool hospital. And, despite expensive improvements to the culvert, I firmly believed that there still remained that threat without tackling these issues.

“Throughout the six-week programme I was constantly available and arranged numerous meetings with county council officers when issues were raised. This, despite, unacceptable abuse from many who chose to use Facebook and hide behind keyboards to abuse those in public office as many town councillors here today will appreciate and understand. It is water off a duck’s back to me but to officers of the council and to contractors who had to face totally unacceptable abuse from a very small minority of residents it was totally unacceptable.

“I was unable to attend the public meeting held at the COWSHACC due to a prior engagement.”

Mr Breeze then went on to address an accusation raised at the meeting that he wasn’t passing on complaints from residents to the county councillors. An accusation he was able to address with a trail of paperwork dating back to an initial complaint submitted in 2020 by Sally Gartell, the founder of the Stop the Bull Dingle Destruction Facebook campaign, regarding tree debris in the brook and concerns raised about the “erosion of my land”. Cllr Breeze said he arranged a meeting between officers and Ms Gartell to address the issue. Ms Gartell has responded to this in her statement (link above).

“I have been acutely aware of the dangers to life and property about the worsening situation in Bull Dingle for some years now. As the elected councillor for Llanerchydol Ward those areas will always remain a priority.”