5 days ago
We're at war over neighbour's HUGE 6ft gate blocking shared path – they were told to rip it down… but accuse US of abuse
A VILLAGE row is threatening to boil over after a wealthy family ignored council orders to tear down a huge 6ft gate.
Locals have been battling to remove the "gates of hell", which block a popular mountain path in Cwmparc, Rhondda Valley, South Wales.
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Homeowners of Vicarage Terrace installed the eyesore in February this year, later hiring 24/7 security guards and using CCTV to monitor the imposing blockade.
In a statement, they claimed that the work had been done to put a stop to "illegal parking, out-of-control dogs, people urinating, aggression, theft, drugs, and air rifles" on the land.
They added: "A decision was made that we needed to put security gates at our home to keep our children safe."
But locals were left fuming at the barriers, which were constructed on private land, but shut off a path that has been used for decades.
They prevented access to a highway leading to a beauty spot on Cwmparc Mountain.
announced it would serve the wealthy family a legal notice.
And on May 8, council chiefs officially gave the owners, named locally as Laura and Adam Drew, one month to remove the metal obstruction.
Now, over a month later, the massive gates remain in place, but a new gravel path has been created to run alongside them.
Locals who have been involved in the 'GateGate' campaign say it is unclear whether they are able to use the " temporary path".
Last Friday, council leader Andrew Morgan confirmed the local authority was aware of the interim footpath.
He said: "This work wasn't agreed in advance and will be considered once the notice expires.
Our kids' play area was blocked by huge 6ft privacy fence
"Any access proposals can only be considered after the notice ends and must meet these key conditions:
"The public must always be able to access the highway.
"The route must remain safe and usable for people walking, cycling, or riding horses.
"There must be a clear plan with a timeline to make the highway rights permanent and follow planning rules."
But now the enforcement notice has expired, Richard Clarke, one of the campaign leaders, explained locals are awaiting "definitive action".
Richard added: "We are now in a position where we await the council to ensure that we have continued access to the obstructed highway.
"The gates remain both a physical obstruction and detriment to the visual impact of the area.
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"It is my view that the council needs to act swiftly to ensure that it is not seen as doing a U-turn on its previous enforcement decision.
"The Gate-gate campaign has consistently argued that a makeshift path constructed in haste is unsuitable as a long-term solution.
"We sincerely hope the leader of the council remains true to his word and will provide us with continued access to the highway leading to the forestry.
"Our campaign slogan was 'No to the gates!'. Having the gates continue to visually oppress us while we utilise a temporary path just reminds us of how the use of this road was taken from us.
"We hope the council considers the feelings of the community and makes the right choice from not only a legal perspective but also a moral one for the benefit of the community as a whole."
The owners preside over a small patch of land that visitors need to cross to reach the mountain, 1,600ft above sea level.
They put up a sign saying 'no unauthorised access' and made it look like an official forestry sign.
More than 70 people turned up for a peaceful protest in the rain, waving banners proclaiming: "No to the gate. Our mountains are there for all to enjoy."
A social media campaign is also under way and a petition has been signed by more than 3,000 locals.
One villager fumed: 'A walk up the mountain was like stepping into heaven, but now we can't get there because of the gates of hell.
"It's a horrible way to treat people."
David Powell, 53, who lives just 200 yards away, said: 'There's a fella threatening to use his pick-up truck to attach some chains to the gates and pull them down.
'I hope it doesn't come to that, but feelings are running high and people feel their right to walk up the mountain has been stopped.
'I've used that path all my life, I go up there to look at the Peregrine falcons, buzzards and red kites.
'It's a mountain paradise that the locals have used as far back as anyone can remember.'
