Treorchy residents celebrate as neighbour's Cwmparc gate removed
Residents have been left "elated" after a neighbour's security gate, which previously blocked access to a foresty, has been removed. The gate, which prevented entry to Cwmparc forest, was erected in February and stirred a passionate campaign in Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf - including a peaceful protest and petition with 4,284 signatures calling for its removal.The homeowners previously said the gates were for their safety but they were found to obstruct the highway, the council said, so a legal order was issued in April for the gates to be taken down.Richard Clarke, campaign leader, said he was absolutely delighted to see the gates removed so the community can "get back what they missed".
"I have had hundreds of congratulatory messages, we have all had congratulatory messages," said Mr Clarke."When we started it we didn't know what we would be up against," he said, adding that "so many people" were now relieved."Protecting the highway is a statutory requirement, the public must always have access to the highway. It shows that in the end justice has prevailed."Mr Clarke said the whole process took four months to get to enforcement action, with hundreds of banners, posters and stickers put up around the town in solidarity.The notice served to the homeowners by the council expired on 8 June, but the gates remained.
The family living in the gated property moved to Cwmparc over a year ago, and previously said their private entrance had been abused in a way which they felt left them with no choice and were working on an alternative route. "When the council didn't take immediate action, we were on an ice edge," Mr Clarke said. "We realised we needed to do something, so many of the Gate Gate campaigners emailed Andrew Morgan asking for something to be done."On Thursday, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council Andrew Morgan issued a statement which said the access arrangements put in place by the homeowners "did not fulfil the legal order for the gates to be removed". He said the homeowners had the weekend to fulfil the legal order, and that the council would dispatch contractors to remove them should they not be removed within that time.
Mr Clarke said he had been up to the site on Friday, after the gates were removed that morning, and he met many "very very happy" locals. "It is amazing to see what a difference this campaign has made to people's lives. "One woman had tears in her eyes," he said, adding another went to see the trees she planted in memory of her husband and brother. Mr Clarke added behind every campaign was a good group of people, and thanked campaigners for their unwavering effort.
He said he wanted to extend the same community spirit to the homeowners, and he never wished them ill."They may have chose to do something we disagree with, but they should now be left in peace," he added. Speaking of what it means going forward, Mr Clarke said the school holidays were a crucial point for the community. "For the first time in over 100 days, children can go there, it's just at the end of the street. "I said I wouldn't celebrate until after the gates were down, I have come to Hot Gossip cafe and they have given me a free cappuccino. "I don't do it for reward, but this in itself is worth it," he said. "I don't know what I will do now actually, this has taken up every minute of my time for the last four months."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Grenfell residents gather for last anniversary before tower is taken down
Grenfell residents gathered in London to 'say goodbye to their homes' on what is likely to be the last anniversary of the tragedy before the tower is dismantled. The 72 people who died in the tower block fire in west London in June 2017 were commemorated with a silent walk through the streets of north Kensington on Saturday evening – just months before the two-year process of dismantling what remains of the building is expected to begin. 'There is the fear that once that tower comes down, they'll be forgotten,' said Nina Mendy, whose aunt, Mary Mendy, and cousin, Khadija Saye, died in their flat on the 20th floor. 'It's the uncertainty of what next year a memorial will look like. It's like we've been told what's going to happen, rather than been consulted – it's almost like being a child.' The government announced earlier this year that they would dismantle the tower, which is being held up by steel props, to ground level owing to safety fears. At the time of the decision, the Grenfell United group said that the voices of the bereaved had been ignored by the deputy prime minister and housing secretary, Angela Rayner. Survivor David Benjamin, who was in his girlfriend's flat on the fourth floor at the time of the fire, said that eight years on from the tragedy, he hoped that 'people would remember that it wasn't just a building – it was our home'. He said: 'I knew it was going to come down eventually, but I would have preferred that it stayed up until we at least got some justice. I still live nearby and it's hard to have to see it – I always take time to reflect. We see ourselves as family here. It's important that we keep that up moving forward.' Five architecture practices have been shortlisted by the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission to lead the memorial's design. Survivor Antonio Roncolato, who lived on the 10th floor, said he worried that there would be a lag between the tower's demolition and the new structure, which will bear the names of the 72 people, aged between six months and 82, who were killed. 'I feel that the time has come for the tower to be taken down,' he said. 'But for me it's important there is a plan in place – that the tower is not dismantled and then the ground remains sealed off for a year. For me, it's very important that events like this take place and that we keep breathing down the necks of our politicians to make sure that the recommendations from the public inquiry are implemented.' Throughout the day, residents dressed in green arrived to pay their respects at the foot of the tower, laying white roses and praying alongside multi-faith leaders. Joe Powell, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater, acknowledged that the loss of the tower would mean not 'having that reminder every day that we still don't have justice'. Calling for a national oversight mechanism, which would ensure greater enforcement of public inquiry recommendations, he said: 'We shouldn't have any government marking their own homework, regardless of what political party they are. Inquiries are very traumatising to victims and if we don't actually learn the lessons from them then you know that feels, to me, like a governance problem.' The Grenfell inquiry, which concluded last year, found that 'Each and every one of the deaths that occurred in Grenfell Tower, on the 14 June 2017 was avoidable.'
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Lottery results and numbers: Lotto and Thunderball draw tonight, June 14, 2025
THE NATIONAL Lottery results are in and it's time to find out who has won a life-changing amount of money tonight (June 14, 2025). Could tonight's £4million jackpot see you handing in your notice, jetting off to the Bahamas or driving a new Porsche off a garage forecourt? 3 3 You can find out by checking your ticket against tonight's numbers below. Good luck! Tonight's National Lottery Lotto winning numbers are: 08, 20, 36, 42, 48, 59 and the Bonus Ball is 46. Tonight's National Lottery Thunderball winning numbers are: 06, 27, 28, 29, 39 and the Thunderball is 01. The first National Lottery draw was held on November 19 1994 when seven winners shared a jackpot of £5,874,778. The largest amount ever to be won by a single ticket holder was £42million, won in 1996. Gareth Bull, a 49-year-old builder, won £41million in November, 2020 and ended up knocking down his bungalow to make way for a luxury manor house with a pool. TOP 5 BIGGEST LOTTERY WINS ACROSS THE WORLD £1.308 billion (Powerball) on January 13 2016 in the US, for which three winning tickets were sold, remains history's biggest lottery prize £1.267 billion (Mega Million) a winner from South Carolina took their time to come forward to claim their prize in March 2019 not long before the April deadline £633.76 million (Powerball draw) from a winner from Wisconsin £625.76 million (Powerball) Mavis L. Wanczyk of Chicopee, Massachusetts claimed the jackpot in August 2017 £575.53 million (Powerball) A lucky pair of winners scooped the jackpot in Iowa and New York in October 2018 Sue Davies, 64, bought a lottery ticket to celebrate ending five months of shielding during the pandemic — and won £500,000. Sandra Devine, 36, accidentally won £300k - she intended to buy her usual £100 National Lottery Scratchcard, but came home with a much bigger prize. The biggest jackpot ever to be up for grabs was £66million in January last year, which was won by two lucky ticket holders. Another winner, Karl managed to bag £11million aged just 23 in 1996. The odds of winning the lottery are estimated to be about one in 14million - BUT you've got to be in it to win it. 3
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Girls' run for Huddersfield bus stop crash friend Katelyn Dawson
Friends of a girl who died after being hit by a car at a bus stop have taken part in a charity run for the children's hospice that supported them after she Dawson, 15, was struck as she waited for a school bus on Wakefield Road, Huddersfield, on 10 January the Forget Me Not Children's Hospice held its fundraising colour run in the town's Greenhead Lewis, 24, said: "It was nice to give back, because they (the hospice) were there when we needed them the most." Following her death, Katelyn's body was taken to a special room at the hospice in Huddersfield, where friends were able to say their goodbyes in a non medical funds for the hospice showed "we do care and we are thankful for what they did for her and her family, too", Chyna of Katelyn's friends taking part in the event, which saw marshals and spectators throw buckets full of brightly coloured powder at runners, Aaliyah Hughes, 23, said the support the hospice had given them had made "such a big difference".She said taking part in the fun run made her and Chyna feel "so much support and love from the community around us". Katelyn's parents, Colin and Angela Dawson, cheered the runners on from the side Dawson said: "They just never stop. She must have been really special to them, because they just keep going."They haven't forgotten, not one of her friends."They've all just been absolutely amazing - we're so proud of them." Stacey John, family support team leader at the Forget Me Not Children's Hospice, said the event was a "vital way to fundraise so more families can get support during tough times". "Our team simply couldn't do what we do without events like this," she added. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
