Highly anticipated repair of a popular Powys walking route that has been closed for four years will begin in the new year, Welsh Water has said.

The not-for-profit water company has insisted it is committed to repairing Devil's Gulch in the Elan Valley since it was closed for safety reasons in 2018 due to a rockfall.

Due to the extremely unstable condition of the rock face, expert engineers were brought in to assess its condition and provide professional advice. Now, specialist North Wales-based contractors Rock Engineering will be completing the repair work on the popular walking trail through the Elan Valley on behalf of Welsh Water.

The repair work, which will begin on Monday, 9th January 2023, will involve descaling the rock formation, anchoring and bolting the rock, along with adding rock netting.

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Alun Shurmer, Welsh Water’s director of customer strategy and engagement said: "We are pleased to confirm the start of work to repair the Devil’s Gulch in the New Year.

"We are fortunate to have onboard specialist and experienced Welsh contractors, Rock Engineering, to carry out this complex repair and we expect to be able to reopen the Gulch in Spring 2023.

"We appreciate the inconvenience the closure of the Gulch has caused regular users of this popular route and we would like to thank our customers for bearing with us while we carry out this work, and we look forward to welcoming visitors back to this beauty spot in 2023."

While the repair work is undertaken, and to protect visitors and animals, as agreed by the Welsh Government, a further extension of the closure of the Elan Valley Trail and bridleway is now in place and will remain in place until people are able to pass through the Gulch again safely.