Countryside closure may be 'relaxed'

The Botanic Garden of Wales could be allowed to re-open

Tourism in Wales was thrown a lifeline with new guidance to councils as a first step towards relaxing foot-and-mouth restrictions in parts of the countryside.

The Welsh Assembly guidelines only apply to areas of Wales not currently infected by the outbreak.

Millions of pounds in revenue has been lost by tourism businesses in Wales and jobs have been threatened.

Signs like this are becoming all too familiar

John Thomas, who runs a climbing centre in the Brecon Beacons, has not been covered by the restrictions.

But confusion over the restrictions on public access to the countryside has meant his business losing £100,000 and laying off 20 staff.

Local authorities in non-infected areas will now have the discretion to decide whether or not to re-open some footpaths and rights of way to the public.

It will be left to councils such as Carmarthenshire county to decide if attractions like the National Botanic Garden of Wales at Llanarthne can re-open.

Colwyn Bay Mountain Zoo is due to re-open its gates on Thursday.

I recognise the grave difficulties being faced by the rural economy at the moment

Carwyn Jones, Welsh Rural Affairs Minister

Meanwhile, it is suspected that a positive case of foot-and-mouth in France may have come from livestock bought in Wales two week before the first UK case was confirmed.

A livestock dealer exported 200 sheep directly from a Welsh farm to France in January.

They were later slaughtered at a farm in Normandy - and tested positive to exposure for foot-and-mouth.

The number of cases of foot-and-mouth in Wales has continued to rise with four new confirmed sites on Tuesday bringing the total to 28. The UK total now stands at 394.

Two of the cases are at Brynsiencyn and Llangrustiolus on Anglesey - bringing the number on the island to 11.

Welsh Mountain Zoo is set to re-open

The others are at Rockley Farm in Montgomeryshire and Gospel Pass, Capel-y-Ffin, Powys.

Meanwhile, Europe's largest youth festival - the Urdd Eisteddfod - has become the latest casualty of the outbreak.

Organisers have cancelled the week-long event - due to be held in Cardiff this year.

Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has demanded an aid package to help the Welsh agriculture and tourism industries recover from the impact of the virus.

In response, the National Assembly's Agriculture Minister Carwyn Jones said: "I recognise the grave difficulties being faced by the rural economy at the moment."

"Anything that can be done to help the rural economy recover will be done."

Troops must take a greater 'hands-on' role

Bob Parry, FUW

But the Wales Tourism Alliance said that not enough was being done.

The group has claimed that 1,500 jobs are being lost in tourism each week because of foot-and mouth and the alliance added that Easter period could see three times the losses.

They are seeking compensation for businesses affected by "government directives" following the outbreak.

WTA chairman David Baird-Murray said: "We must get the message across that Wales is open for business."

As the crisis takes hold in Wales Carwyn Jones has said that the army may have to be brought in to clear the backlog of slaughtered animals.

The prospect of the army's involvment in the unfolding rural tradegy has been welcomed by farming unions.

The president of the Farmers Union of Wales Bob Parry said: "The troops must take a greater 'hands-on' role to combat the disease."

"This would enable livestock to be slaughtered and incinerated far faster than is happening at present."