Builth Wells Town Council gives fire service permission to use its land for a 'large-scale' exercise

Builth Wells Town Council has given permission for the fire service to use their land to hold Exercise Coracle in the area.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue are planning to run a large-scale exercise based at the Royal Welsh Showground at Llanelwedd in Builth Wells on September 8 and 9.

The exercise will involve multiple scenarios across five different venues.

In an email to Builth Wells Town Council, the fire service said they hoped one of the venues would be the stretch of the River Wye from the Rocks down to the Town Bridge.

They said they are hoping to be able to run two scenarios simultaneously.

They asked the town council if they would be able to access the river through the town council's fields opposite the RWAS, sticking to the hard standing tracks through the field.

They said they will ensure public safety at all times and that they would not block any footpath or access routes.

They said they hope to set up at around 8am on September 9, with crews deploying from the Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground throughout the day, beginning at approximately 9.30am.

They said they are also hoping to use the River Ithon around the Swing Bridge area and understand this comes under the Town Council.

Members considered the request to use two parts of the town council's land for Exercise Coracle and they agreed to give permission to the fire service.

Ian Morgan, Station Liaison Officer at Mid and West Wales Fire Service said he would be in touch closer to the time with further details.