Latest news with #MonmouthshireCountyCouncil
South Wales Argus
34 minutes ago
- 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."
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Our picturesque countryside views are ruined by 6ft tall ‘Great Wall of China' fence next door… so we got our revenge
Villagers have persuaded the council to remove the "eyesore" UP THE WALL Our picturesque countryside views are ruined by 6ft tall 'Great Wall of China' fence next door… so we got our revenge Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FURIOUS villagers have succeeded in having a 6ft tall fence, that was blocking beauty spot views, torn down. Residents hit out at their local council for building the large "out of place" steel structure. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Locals said the fence stood out from the stunning landscape Credit: WNS 4 It was dubbed "the great wall of Clydach" Credit: WNS The massive 200 meter long, 6ft tall, spiked steel fence was built by Monmouthshire County Council in Clydach, Wales. Residents were given no notice that the fence was to be erected at a cost of £40,000. Furious with the hideous construction locals campaigned to have the fence removed. It blocked beauty spot views of the Brecon Beacons National Park leaving local residents infuriated and demanding it be taken down. Furious locals could see the fence on the hillside from their back gardens and said it failed to blend in. A heated council meeting in April saw residents fume at the local council with one branding it "disgusting." County council officials have now agreed to take down the fence, forking out an additional £20,000 for its removal. Made of steel spikes, locals blasted the fence as "disgusting" and said it was "absolutely hideous." The council was slammed for not consulting with residents before building the "great wall of Clydach." It was put up along the Pwll Du Road which has been closed off for five years. The council feared the road would collapse and put the fence up to block off the dodgy pathway. They have since agreed to remove the steel fence and replace it with a shorter structure that will "blend in" with the surroundings. Our kids' play area was blocked by huge 6ft privacy fence Nearby resident Clive Thomas said: "We've got a lovely back garden, and it's just an eyesore. "When the sun is on it and everything, it just looks out of place." Simon Elliott said: "There was no consultation with anyone. The fence has been put up with no understanding at all of what the area is. "All it needed was a low-level fencing to stop any cattle or people going over the edge into the quarry." Simon Howarth, independent councillor said he was pleased with the council's decision. He added: "we shouldn't have got here" pointing out that the huge bills could have been avoided. The councillor went on to say: "Overall we are where we should have started, but around £50,000 to £70,000 worse off." A council spokesperson 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." 4 The council has since agreed to replace the structure with something that will blend in Credit: WNS 4 Residents demanded the fence be torn down immediately Credit: WNS
South Wales Argus
16 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Solar panels approved in countryside at Llantilio Crossenny
Nicholas Perkins applied for planning permission to place eight rows of nine panels in an agricultural field in the open countryside beside his Park Cottage home at Llantilio Crossenny, north of Raglan. Each panel will be 1.72m high and 1.13m wide making a total area for the array 140 square metres. The panels will be in frames 1.23m off the ground at their greatest point. The site is within the open countryside where development is strictly controlled but Monmouthshire County Council planning officer Helen Etherington said Welsh policy requires renewable energy generation is accommodated and should ensure residents can 'obtain a higher proportion of their energy needs from local renewable sources'. Ms Ethertington also said the application doesn't pose an unacceptable impact on the landscape, townscape or historic features, biodiversity, amenities of nearby residents, the wider environment or Monmouthshire's distinct identity which could have led to a refusal. Her reoport stated: 'The array will supplement the existing power requirements for the main dwelling of Park Cottage and surrounding holiday lets. The principle of renewable energy installations is supported by policy and therefore the proposal is deemed acceptable subject to consideration of visual impact.' READ MORE: Monmouthshire: No outright opposition to solar farms Whitecastle Community Council recommended the application be approved and there were no objections from any statutory agencies and none from members of the public. The array will be nearly 200m from the nearest neighbouring property at an angle that the panels will not be facing the neighbour's property. A condition will require the land is returned to its current condition within two months of it no longer being required for generating electricity or 25 years from the date of the permission, whichever is sooner.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Coffee shop approved for unit at Newport Road, Caldicot
Rookman Properties asked for change of use planning permission from A1 class, which covers retail uses, to a mixed A1/A3 which covers food including takeaways and eating in. Information submitted on behalf of the firm said it is increasingly hard to let shops in Caldicot. The unit is at number seven Wesley Buildings, Newport Road the main shopping precinct and has been advertised since September 2024 with a rent of £19,500 a year. Chepstow and Bristol-based property consultant Julian Bladen, who has had joint responsibilty for marketing the property, said in a letter provided to Monmouthshire County Council's planning department one unit in the town has been available to let for more than five years. Mr Bladen stated in his letter: 'Unfortunately, there is limited interest in the property and this reflects the general situation in Caldicot town centre. There are currently multiple vacant retail premises and a very low level of prospective occupiers for A1 use operators. 'Some properties in the town centre have been vacant for several years, which clearly illustrates the shortage of active requirements from A1 use operators to take space in the immediate vicinity of the subject property. This includes 43 Newport Road Caldicot, which we have advertised since November 2019.' The application stated the council had, in June last year, approved a change of use application from office use to retail. A previous application for A3 use was approved, in 2014, but wasn't implemented. The application stated the hot food will be limited to toasting, warming and reheating meaning no primary cooking requiring a commercial kitchen would be required or an extract, flue and duct. Permission for branding and adverts will be sought at a later stage. The council has approved the application with opening times of 6.30am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 6pm on Sundays.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
'Disgusting' mountainside fence to be removed after backlash
A huge fence put up across a mountain and overlooking a beauty spot is to be removed after a public 2.1m (6ft) tall steel fence - dubbed the "Great Wall of Clydach" by villagers - was erected without notice last month, along the Monmouthshire village's Pwll Du Road, spanning 200m (652ft).It sits across the face of Gilwern mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and close to the boundary of the UNESCO Blaenavon World Heritage claimed the galvanised steel structure with sharp spikes was "disgusting" and demanded its removal. Monmouthshire County Council, which said it had to take action to stop people accessing the road - which has been closed to traffic on safety grounds for the past five years - has now agreed to replace it, according to the Local Democracy Reporting 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 will also be painted to blend in with the surrounding countryside. Simon Howarth, independent councillor for Llanelly Hill, said he was pleased with the outcome, but was critical of the council's actions and costs involved, saying "we shouldn't have got here".He said, at a recent meeting held at Clydach Village Hall, the council said it would be going out to tender to remove the fence, but costs would be in the region of £20, a public meeting held in April, the council confirmed the bill for putting up the fence was £40, said: "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 intended to allow access to the backside of the fence, between it and the mountainside, for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as holding talks with farmers and landowners over access for moving stock from the Keeper's Pond end of the mountain road. 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 its 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 suggested the road should be closed to people, as well as report outlined alternatives including new footpaths over the top of the mountain and below the existing road, or rebuilding the road but moving the carriageway further back into the mountain, which the council had said would cost millions of Wayne Elliot, who was involved in court action that ruled the council was responsible for the road, previously said he had been battling with the authority since 2020 to get it moved back, claiming "the farmers would help do it, they'd get it done in a week".But a council spokesperson shut down this suggestion, saying it was "not going to happen".
