The court heard so-called Waterfall Country is hugely popular with visitors, attracting 250,000 walkers a year with many visitors following the Four Waterfalls Walk, a three-hour, 9km (5.6 mile) trail taking in the falls at Sgwd yr Eira, Sgwd Uchaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn and, Sgwd y Pannwr.
Ownership and land management is “a complex picture”, the hearing was told, involving Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and three local authorities.
Catherine Mealing-Jones, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority CEO, said the organisation “holds our breath, literally every day, hoping people will be safe”.
She said one route, referred to as path 86, had been closed permanently following accidents and that more staff had been put at entry points within the huge park area to try and ensure people were aware of the risks.
The court heard the family of a man who drowned trying to save relatives in September 2023 had offered “funding for life-saving rings at each of the falls” but the authority had declined.
Mealing-Jones said the intervention “would more likely lead to injury” and “could be interpreted to mean that swimming is permitted”.
Following the man’s death a prevention of future deaths report was issued by the same coroner, urging action on signage at the site.
A joint safety advisory group with members of the National Park Authority and NRW “met regularly” to discuss safety and management of the site, Mealing-Jones said.
