Gwasg Carreg Gwalch have just published a book entitled The Dulas Valley... and the Tryweryn factor, commemorating the 50th anniversary of a landmark victory by the residents of the Dulas Valley on the borders of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire.

Large numbers of local people attended its launch in Llanidloes, where the scene was set by publisher Myrddin ap Dafydd, the incoming Archdruid of Wales.

He explained to those present that the book was of significant importance, outlining the wrong-doings from which Wales had suffered in the past, due to transgressions committed by the Westminster Government.

In 1969, the Severn River Authority - as it then was - had planned to flood the valley, displacing well over 200 residents, destroying good grazing land renowned locally for turning out quality stock, and breaking up a closely knit community with a rich social and cultural life.

Distraught at the thought of suffering the same fate as the one-time residents of the Tryweryn and Efyrnwy valleys in particular, local people came together not only to defend their valley, but to highlight and avoid the travesties surrounding those former schemes.

While acknowledging that demand for water would always increase, they could not initially understand why the River Authority was prepared to drown a noted stock-rearing valley rather than unoccupied land in the upper Severn catchment or elsewhere.

Their suspicions were borne out during the public inquiry when it became apparent that cost implications were being placed before sociological and cultural considerations.

The community was fortunate to have the late Emlyn Hooson QC, a local resident and member of Parliament, to defend them, assisted by Martin Thomas QC (now Lord Thomas of Gresford) as Junior Counsel and Gareth Morgan the Llanidloes solicitor, who worked tirelessly on their behalf.

The Public Inquiry came down in favour of local people, with the inspector refusing permission for the scheme to go ahead.

It was the first time that a community had gone head to head with a river authority and won. Seen as a notable victory, it created a precedent which will hopefully ensure that any future proposals will incur consultation.

The author of the book is Marian Harris, secretary to Gareth Morgan at the time. Her father was chair of the local defence committee, so she was ideally placed to record events as they unfolded, charting the progress of their campaign.

The story of that campaign comes straight from the heart of someone deeply embedded in the culture of this egalitarian, highly talented community.

See this week’s south papers for the full feature, available in shops and as a digital edition now