WALKERS enjoying public footpaths near Machynlleth and Llanidloes will now be able to report damaged structures such as footbridges at the click of a button.

Powys County Council’s Countryside Services Team has now completed an initiative which has seen 1,267 plaques with Quick Response (QR) codes installed on rights of way structures across Powys, including on footbridges, boardwalks and other structures.

The QR codes can be scanned using the camera of a smartphone or tablet, and the user will then be taken directly to an online form where they can report to damaged structure to the council, allowing maintenance staff to easily locate the damaged structure and repair it.

The project has seen 496 plaques installed on structures in north Powys, including on structures along routes such as Glyndwr’s Way, the 135 mile footpath which passes Machynlleth, and Severn Way, which starts six miles west of Llanidloes and ends 210 miles later in Bristol.

Cllr John Powell, Cabinet member for countryside services, said: “With over 2,300 structures on our rights of way network that stretches over 9,000km in length, carrying out regular inspections has its unique challenges."

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