NWM - January 2022

Page 47

Business NEWS Rydal Penrhos hosts rugby league team Rydal Penrhos welcomed one of the country’s most

Castleford at Wembley.

prestigious rugby league sides from December 20th

Instead of going abroad

to 22nd, where St Helens utilised areas such as the

in the current COVID-19

fitness suite, sports hall and trained on Rydal Penrhos’

climate, St Helens have chosen to stay closer to home and

exceptional New Field playing area during their pre-

Rydal Penrhos took every possible precaution to ensure

season camp. They stayed at the school’s accommodation

their time at the school was safe in accordance with Welsh

throughout their stay and Rydal Penrhos staff put on a

Government guidelines. This is the latest high-profile club

special Christmas dinner for the squad and coaches at

or organisation to use Rydal Penrhos’ incredible facilities,

the Ferguson Centre. St Helens sealed a third consecutive

with Glamorgan Cricket Club and Cricket Wales holding a

Super League final thanks to two tries by Kevin Naiqama

recent coaching day at the school that was led by former

in a dramatic encounter against Catalans Dragons in

England international Matthew Maynard. During their time

October, which represents a remarkable achievement

at the school, the Saints’ first-team squad participated in a

and one that head coach Kristian Woolf is keen to build

special coaching session on Tuesday 21st December, which

on after agreeing to stay on for the 2022 campaign. Woolf

members of the Rydal Penrhos community were welcome to

led Saints to their seventh Super League title in his first

attend. A special presentation of the new first-team Rydal

season in charge, while he has since overseen their first

Penrhos kits by the visiting rugby league juggernauts also

Challenge Cup triumph in 13 years with victory against

took place.

The legal position of clearing snow As we move into the depths of winter, farmers and landowners are being reminded of their liabilities for clearing snow and ice from their property. Edward Nutting, an agricultural law specialist at Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors in Conwy, says landowners need to take “reasonable care” to ensure people visiting their farm can do so safely. “On private farm drives, tracks and paths where people need to walk or drive to reach the farm, as with all other owners and occupiers of property, there is a duty of care owed under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984,” he explained. “If you need to clear snow or ice, it should not make the problem worse, which can sometimes happen when snow is not properly cleared and is then replaced by black ice. Additional gritting may help demonstrate that reasonable care has been taken. Ultimately, it comes down to practicalities, and if the decision is taken to clear the snow, then as many steps as reasonably possible should be taken to leave it safe.” Edward added that extra care should be taken when it came to clearing other roads not on the farm, as councils were legally responsible for the public highway. “If a private person decides to clear the road and an accident then occurs, the injured party could have a potential claim against the person who cleared the snow – but only if it can be proved on the balance of probabilities that the clearance led to the injury. Of course, local councils do not have the resources to clear snow on all rural roads, so farmers will understandably feel the need to clear roads themselves. If snow clearing is needed where people have to gain access to the farm then it should be done thoroughly, and if there is the risk of thawing and refreezing it would be wise to apply grit to prevent or reduce the formation of ice.”

NWM 2022 Page 47


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