"Once again part of the road encircling Llandrindod Lake will be closed temporarily for a few nights in March to save the lives of hundreds of common toads.

Llandrindod Lake is an important habitat for amphibians. Five out of the six species found in Wales cross this road each spring to breed in the lake. Th ey are the common frog, common toad, palmate newt, smooth newt and the great crested newt, which is now protected by law because its numbers have declined so dramatically in recent years.

Closing the road temporarily is an important step in conserving Llandrindod's toads.

Toads are faithful to the same breeding site, returning year after year. Unfortunately, this means that lethal obstacles situated along their annual migration routes, such as busy roads, could pose a significant threat to the long-term survival of the population.

The Llandrindod Lake population is one of the most significant in Wales but since the 1970s numbers have fallen from over 10,000 by nearly two-thirds. We appreciate that some drivers have to change their routine for a few days and we're very grateful for their co-operation.

Powys County Council has a statutory duty to help conserve biodiversity and this is a perfect example of how we can make a real difference to our local wildlife with a relatively small amount of effort.

The road will be closed at night for 15 days, from Friday 16 March. The council would like to thank the Environment Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales who have helped to fund the annual road closure projects."

Article written by Dr Emma Durward.