Latest news with #GreatWallofClydach
Wales Online
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Council spends nearly £70,000 on 'hideous' steel fence
Council spends nearly £70,000 on 'hideous' steel fence The 'Great Wall of Clydach' was only installed two months ago but the council must already undertake remedial work following local complaints Cllr Richard John, far left, with Cllr Fay Bromfield, local farmer Wayne Elliot, and Cllr Simon Howarth standing beside the steel fence dubbed the 'Great Wall of Clydach' (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A Welsh council spent £66,000 on a steel fence which now needs significant remedial work after locals complained about it. Monmouthshire County Council forked out the huge cost for the steel fence dubbed the "Great Wall of Clydach" in the village in the north of the county in April. It stretches more than 200m across Gilwern mountain within Bannau Brycheiniog and has been described by a councillor as "hideous". The local authority has said the fence, which is 2.1m in height, was essential to prevent access to the Pwll Du road on the mountain due to concerns it might give way into the quarry beneath following the illegal removal of previous barriers such as bollards and gates. The fence's abrupt installation, which bypassed public consultation, led to community uproar prompting the council in May to agree to lower its height and repaint it which will cost another £20,000. During the latest council meeting on the issue councillor Richard John, leader of the Conservative opposition group, inquired about the total expenditure on the fencing above Clydach. Cllr Catrin Maby, Labour cabinet member for the environment, responded that the overall cost would hit around £66,000 by the end of the year, including £42,000 for the initial setup and an extra £22,000 to render it "more visually acceptable". Article continues below She informed councillors there had been sightings of individuals on the road oblivious to the potential danger of collapse which necessitated swift action by the council. She also said "part of the cost is the cost of vandalism unfortunately". "Please remember saving lives is our priority when assessing the cost of this road," she added. Cllr John, representing Mitchell Troy and Trellech, said: "Lives are important but clearly there was wastage here." He asked what measures would be implemented "so we do not see this huge scale of money wasted again", adding that "£66,000 has been spent on that fence this year". He expressed a "real sense of a significant amount of money wasted here" and said after he'd inspected the fence alongside two other councillors: "It's absolutely hideous. It is 7ft high and has huge metal spikes." He requested the cabinet member to "quantify how much has been spent unnecessarily". Cllr Maby said: "Had no vandalism occurred the cost would have been £2,000. Article continues below "I put the question back to you –how much do you think saving a life is worth if you think that's an over-expenditure?"
South Wales Argus
08-06-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Great Wall of Clydach steel fence to be removed says council
The 2.1 metre, or six foot, tall steel fence appeared suddenly and without warning across the face of Gilwern mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and close to the boundary of the UNESCO Blaenavon World Heritage site in April. Locals dubbed the 200m long galvanised steel structure with sharp spikes as the 'Great Wall of Clydach' and demanded its removal. Monmouthshire County Council, which said it had to take action to stop people accessing Pwll Du Road that runs across the face of the mountain and has been closed to traffic on safety grounds for the past five years, has now agreed to replace it. An arrow pointing towards the line of the fence along the mountainside. The council has said it will use stock fencing instead and the posts at either end of the road, supporting the fence, will be reduced in height. It will also be painted to blend in with the surrounding countryside. Independent county councillor for Llanelly Hill, Simon Howarth, said he was pleased with the outcome but critical of the council's actions and costs involved. He said at a recent meeting held at Clydach Village Hall the council said it will be going out to tender to remove the fence but costs would be in the region of £20,000. At a public meeting held in April the council confirmed the bill for putting up the fence was £40,000. Cllr Howarth said: 'The fence is coming down. They did say they are going out to tender and the cost is around £20,000, which hasn't gone done very well. We shouldn't have got here.' The fence line running through the middle of the road will be removed and replaced with 1.5m high stock fence while existing posts and embedded gates at either end, that aren't visible and prevent access for vehicles, will be retained. Cllr Howarth added: 'Overall we are where we should have started but around £50,000 to £70,000 worse off.' The councillor said he was also pleased the council has said it will allow access to the backside of the fence, between it and the mountainside, for cyclists and pedestrians though some points still have to be made safe. A close up of the fence that has been out across the Pwll Du Road on Gilwern Mountain. He also said the council will hold talks with farmers and commoners over access for moving stock from the Keeper's Pond end of the mountain road, which he welcomed. A council spokesman said: 'Following a positive meeting, the local community and the council agreed with the proposal to reduce the height of the back line of the palisade fencing, replacing it with stock proof fencing and painting the reveals and pillars with a suitable colour to blend in with the landscape.' The council had said previous measures to keep vehicles off the road including gates and boulders had failed as they had been damaged or removed while a rockfall in 2023 had prompted it to commission a further report which has suggested the road should be closed to people, as well as vehicles. That also outlined alternatives including new footpaths over the top of the mountain, and below the existing road, and rebuilding the road but moving the carriageway further back into the mountain which the council had said would cost millions of pounds.
Wales Online
04-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
200m steel fence blocking beauty spot view to be removed after public outcry
200m steel fence blocking beauty spot view to be removed after public outcry The 2.1m-tall steel fence appeared suddenly and without warning across the face of Gilwern mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and close to the boundary of the Unesco Blaenavon World Heritage site in April The fence that has been out across the Pwll Du Road on Gilwern Mountain, north Monmouthshire (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A massive fence erected without consultation across a mountain and overlooking a scenic spot is set to be dismantled following public outrage. Residents were angered when the 6ft steel barrier was unexpectedly installed across the face of Gilwern mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and near the boundary of the Unesco Blaenavon World Heritage site in April. Locals dubbed the 200m long galvanised steel structure with sharp spikes the Great Wall of Clydach and demanded its removal sparking a planning dispute. Monmouthshire County Council, which argued it had to intervene to prevent people from accessing Pwll Du Road that runs across the face of the mountain and has been closed to traffic due to safety concerns for the past five years, has now agreed to take the gate down. The council has announced it will instead use stock fencing and the posts at either end of the road, supporting the fence, will be reduced in height. It will also be painted to blend in with the surrounding countryside. Farmer Wayne Elliot has been battling Monmouthshire council over the road, that is now fenced off, since 2020 (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) Independent county councillor for Llanelly Hill Simon Howarth said during a recent assembly at Clydach village hall council authorities announced a plan to tender the dismantling of an unpopular fence for approximately £20,000 – a figure that has unsettled many residents. Article continues below The councillor said: "The fence is coming down. They did say they are going out to tender and the cost is around £20,000, which hasn't gone down very well. We shouldn't have got here." Following the uproar over the original £40,000 expense to erect the barrier it will now be replaced by a less obtrusive 1.5m-high stock fence while the current posts and concealed gates that bar vehicle access will remain in place. Cllr Howarth expressed frustrations about the financial impact, saying: "Overall we are where we should have started but around £50,000 to £70,000 worse off." The 2.1m-tall steel fence overlooks the village of Clydach in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) The councillor said he was also pleased the council has said it will allow access to the back side of the fence, between it and the mountainside, for cyclists and pedestrians though some points still have to be made safe. He also said the council will hold talks with farmers and commoners over access for moving stock from the Keeper's Pond end of the mountain road, which he welcomed. Article continues below A council spokesman said: "Following a positive meeting the local community and the council agreed with the proposal to reduce the height of the back line of the palisade fencing, replacing it with stock proof fencing and painting the reveals and pillars with a suitable colour to blend in with the landscape." Earlier safety measures, such as installing gates and boulders, had been ineffective since they were frequently damaged or removed. As a result of a 2023 rockfall incident the council commissioned another report, which proposed banning pedestrians in addition to vehicles from using the road. That report also suggested potential alternatives including the creation of new footpaths above and below the current road and realigning the road farther into the mountain. However the council has said these alternatives would require a multi-million-pound outlay.
South Wales Argus
03-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Controversial 'Great Wall of Clydach' to be removed
The so-called "Great Wall of Clydach," a 200-metre structure erected last month along Pwll Du Road in the Monmouthshire village, will be removed following public outcry. Peter Fox, Member of the Senedd for Monmouth, said: "This fence has been a huge topic of conversation for local residents and has certainly gained some national attention. "I think everyone agreed the intentions behind the fence were correct, but the execution was somewhat wrong." Monmouthshire County Council has agreed to replace the fence with stock fencing that will be lower in height and painted to better blend with the surrounding countryside. Mr Fox thanked council officers for their engagement with the community but criticised council leadership. He said: "The recent meeting in the village of Clydach was well attended, and I am grateful to the officers of Monmouthshire County Council for attending. "They stood there for a number of hours, held their hands up to getting it wrong, responded to concerns, and began to look for a solution. "I was disappointed at the meeting by the Labour Leader of the Council, Mary Ann Brocklesby, for not standing up herself to take even some of the criticism and feedback from residents. "As a past leader myself, that is your job." He welcomed the council's revised approach, saying: "I am pleased to see the community have been listened to."
Wales Online
27-04-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Huge row breaks out in Welsh village after 'disgusting' 2m high 'Great Wall' is built to keep people away
Huge row breaks out in Welsh village after 'disgusting' 2m high 'Great Wall' is built to keep people away The fence has already incurred costs of £40,000 and locals are up in arms, claiming it is harming their mental health and value of their properties Farmer Wayne Elliot has been battling Monmouthshire council over the road, that is now fenced, off since 2020 (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A towering 2.1 metre high fence erected along the side of a mountain has been labelled the "Great Wall of Clydach" by locals. The steel fence stretches 200 metres along Pwll Du Road, which has been temporarily closed to traffic for five years, and across the face of Gilwern Mountain overlooking Clydach, Monmouthshire. The area falls within the Bannau Brycheiniog, or Brecon Beacons, National Park and is near the boundary of the internationally recognised UNESCO Blaenavon World Heritage site. At a heated meeting in Clydach Village Hall near Abergavenny residents confronted councillors and officials demanding the removal of the fence despite the council's insistence that access to the road must be restricted due to concerns over potential collapse causing rockfall. But senior Monmouthshire County Council officials apologised for the abrupt installation of the fence over three days last week without prior notice and for failing to keep the community informed about the future of the road. The council has vowed to address the situation "as soon as practicable". Article continues below A close up of the fence that has been out across the Pwll Du Road on Gilwern Mountain (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) The 2.1m tall steel fence overlooks the village of Clydach in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) During the meeting most attendees signalled their agreement with Llanelly Hill independent councillor Simon Howarth - the meeting's organiser who sought alternative suggestions from locals - by raising hands in support of removing the fence. The fence has already incurred costs of £40,000 for purchase and installation, the meeting heard. Neighbourhood manager Carl Touhig of Monmouthshire County Council said previous attempts at vehicular restriction of the road via gates and boulders instead of a fence had failed due to damage or removal. Following a 2023 rockfall incident the council initiated an additional study recommending the closure of the road not just to vehicles but also to pedestrians. With rising concerns over safety since the current road is close to the cliff edge, Mr Touhig warned: "A rockfall could take the whole road out. If someone was on that road and I know I've not made it safe I could be prosecuted for corporate manslaughter, and someone losing their life would be far worse than a prison sentence." Despite the safety measures locals say motorcyclists have continued to use the road. They have reported people also using the fence to abseil down the rockface of the old quarry. Former county councillor Martin Thomas expressed his disapproval of the fence, calling it "disgusting". He voiced concerns about the potential for accidents caused by glare from the metal structure on the newly completed A465 below. He questioned: "What about the visual impact? It could cause the first fatality on the Heads of the Valleys road with people looking up at the glare, that is how bad it is." Local residents at the meeting to discuss the fence at Clydach Village Hall (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A view, looking up towards Gilwern Mountain, from Clydach Village Hall with the fence visible towards the top of the the hill (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) Farmer Wayne Elliot, who was part of a court case that determined the council's responsibility for the road, said the council had previously proposed relocating the road further back into the mountain. Mr Elliot, whose farm lies beneath the fence, said: "I used to use it all the time. I'm not worried about it collapsing, it's been there donkey's years. We've been here 30 years and I've used it without any issue at all." Mr Touhig revealed that the projected cost of reconstructing the road further into the mountain exceeds £1m, a task that would necessitate heavy machinery on unstable terrain. He said: "You can't have farmers going up there to build a road we would adopt. That is not going to happen." Article continues below The head of highways also clarified that planning permission was not required for the fence, although the national park had been notified. This has led to complaints from some residents who are subject to the park's stringent planning regulations. Questions were raised about the potential impact on a breeding pair of peregrine falcons at the quarry, and concerns voiced about the fence affecting mental health and property values. Cllr Howarth and Monmouthshire council's Labour leader Mary Ann Brocklesby, who also represents the ward, claimed they were not informed in advance about the erection of the fence. Former council leader and current Conservative Senedd Member for Monmouth Peter Fox suggested that the expenditure of £40,000 would necessitate political approval at some point.
