The Pro-Art Signs Swansea Bay Rally, which was due
to take place on 17th July in the forests around Resolven and Rhondda in South
Wales, has been postponed.
Part of the route that is traditionally followed by
competitors in this annual event goes through Welsh Assembly Government
woodlands that are affected by the recent outbreak of the tree disease caused by
the Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum) infection.
P. ramorum can be spread by tree needles and soil clinging
to people or vehicles and, as the cars would travel between infected woodlands
and uninfected areas several times during the course of the rally, there would
be a high risk of spreading the disease.
Forestry Commission Wales met with the rally organisers,
Port Talbot Motor Club, last week to try to identify an alternative route away
from the woodlands affected by P. ramorum.
As the organisers were not able to find roads in the area
that meet the standard required for the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship that
the rally forms part of, they have taken the decision to postpone the event.
Forestry Commission Wales District Forest Manager Dai
Jones said, "We are treating the outbreak of Phytophthora ramorum in
South Wales very seriously and we are determined to minimise the impacts of this
disease on woodlands. We are disappointed that the Pro-Art Signs Swansea Bay
Rally has been postponed but the risk of allowing a large number of cars to
travel between areas that are infected by this serious tree disease, and those
that are not, is too great. We hoped that, by working with the rally organisers,
we could identify an alternative route but, as this has not been possible at
this time, we look forward to welcoming the event back in
future."
P. ramorum is a fungus-like pathogen that kills many of
the trees that it infects. It was found on Japanese larch trees in South West
England last year, and in woodland managed by Forestry Commission Wales on
behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government in the Afan Valley, near Port Talbot,
Dulais Valley near Crynant and Garw Valley, near Bridgend in June. The outbreak
in South Wales is the first time P. ramorum has been found on Japanese larch
trees outside of South West England.
However, the situation is changing rapidly as surveys are
undertaken and it is likely that the infection has spread more widely. Forestry
Commission Wales is holding discussions with other rally organisers to consider
options for the events that are due to take place later this year.
The public woodlands remain open and signs at forest
entrances ask visitors to observe some simple bio security precautions to
minimise the spread of infection. | 
