Latest news with #SimonElliott
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Villagers win battle against 200m ‘Great Wall' at Welsh beauty spot
Villagers have won a fight to tear down a giant fence that was blocking views of a national park. The 200m-long, 6ft-high steel fence was dubbed the 'Great Wall of Clydach' after it was built by a Labour-led council without notice at a cost of £40,000. But weeks later, officials have agreed to tear it down – and will spend £20,000 on its removal. The roadside structure blocks views of the mountains and valleys within Wales's Brecon Beacons National Park (now known as Bannau Brycheiniog) and close to the Unesco World Heritage site of Blaenavon. Locals described the fence, made of galvanised steel with sharp spikes on top, as 'disgusting' and criticised the council for a lack of consultation. Officials said it was erected along Pwll Du Road, which has been closed to traffic for five years, over fears it could collapse. Resident Clive Thomas said: 'It's just an eyesore. When the sun is on it and everything, it just looks out of place.' Simon Elliott added: '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.' Monmouthshire County Council has agreed to remove the fence and replace it with a shorter structure that will 'blend in' with the surroundings. Independent councillor Simon Howarth said he was pleased with the council's decision, but added: 'We shouldn't have got here' and claimed huge bills could have been avoided. He said: 'Overall, we are where we should have started, but around £50,000 to £70,000 worse off.' 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.'
Scottish Sun
2 days 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
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Villagers in Welsh beauty spot win battle to get £40,000 fence dubbed the 'Great Wall of Clydach' knocked down
Furious villagers have won their fight to demolish a huge £40,000 fence erected in a Welsh beauty spot. The 200-metre long six-foot high steel fence, dubbed the 'Great Wall of Clydach', was installed within Brecon Beacons National Park in April. It was put up by the council at a cost of £40,000 to block access to the road amid fears the face of Gilwern mountain could collapse on cars and pedestrians. Now County Hall officials have agreed to take down the fence - and will spend another £20,000 for its removal. The roadside structure, nearby to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Blaenavon, was widely criticised for blocking views of the surrounding idyllic mountains and valleys. Locals described the fence, made of galvanised steel with sharp spikes on top, as 'disgusting' and slammed the council for a lack of public consultation. Clive Thomas, who was born in Clydath, told MailOnline: '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.' Meanwhile, long-term resident 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.' Local fury at the 'Great Wall' even prompted more than 120 villagers to gather at Clydach village hall in protest. During a heated meeting in late April, residents insisted that the fence was a safety hazard, with abseilers using it to tie their ropes to. Expressing her outrage, local resident Marit Meredith said: 'We weren't consulted about the fence at all. 'It's been noted that climbers are using the fence to fasten their ropes to which is unsafe. 'It's the appearance and it could cause an accident. It's over two metres high. Abseilers, they could actually kill themselves.' Ms Meredith also alleged there were peregrine falcons - a rare species of bird - nesting below the fence, which were being 'disturbed' by its presence. However, officials at the time insisted that the fence was designed to be a nine-month temporary measure. They also claimed that it had been erected along along Pwll Du Road, which has been closed to traffic for five years, over legitimate fears it could collapse imminently. It came after a rockfall in 2023 led to a council report that suggested the path should be closed off to both people and vehicles. A highways chief further explained that while planning permission was not required for the fence, the national park had been informed. Now, Monmouthshire County Council has agreed to remove the fence and replace it with a shorter structure that will 'blend in' with the surroundings. Stock proof fencing is set to be used instead, with the posts at either end of the road set to be reduced in height and painted a 'suitable colour'. Simon Howarth, an independent county councillor, said he was pleased with the council's U-turn decision, but added that 'we shouldn't have got here' and that the huge costs could have been avoided. He added: 'Overall we are where we should have started, but around £50,000 to £70,000 worse off.' Cllr Howarth also said he was glad that the council were intending to allow access to the backside of the fence, between it and to the mountainside for cyclists and pedestrians. A Monmouthshire County 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 Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major UK city train station forced to close for two months reopens after huge £10million revamp
A MAJOR city centre train station is finally back open this week after a two-month shutdown and a whopping £10million makeover. Advertisement 4 A major UK train station has flung open its doors after a two-month closure and a jaw-dropping £10million makeover Credit: Alamy 4 Commuters can't believe the transformation Credit: Alamy Commuters will notice a brand new roof, wider platforms, revamped ticket office and clearer signage - with more upgrades, including accessible toilets and braille maps, still to come. The station was set to reopen on Monday but bosses held off to let Northern carry out last-minute safety checks. Passengers are being told to plan ahead as the work will clash with a major revamp at nearby Salford Crescent next year, meaning weekend rail services will be hit. Until then, train users can hop on Bee Network buses between key stations including Salford Crescent and Manchester Oxford Road using their valid tickets - but heads up, more closures are planned for April 27 and May 4. Advertisement more on salford Simon Elliott, Network Director for Rail at TfGM, said: 'The first phase of work at Salford Central is complete and passengers will soon be able to enjoy the upgrades that are being made at the station." 'While the main work is done, Northern requires more time to carry out essential checks to ensure passengers' safety prior to the station re-opening. 'We're sorry for any inconvenience or disruption this may cause to people's "We'll continue to work closely with Northern and Network Rail, as well as the main contractor, to meet the revised reopening date.' Advertisement Most read in News Travel Exclusive Exclusive Matt Rice, Chief Operating Officer for Northern, added: "We realise that Salford Central being closed for a few extra days may be inconvenient, but safety is our top priority and we need to make sure that the station is safe for everybody to use. "Once the station reopens in a few days' time, customers will be able to enjoy a fantastic new facility that will truly transform their experience. Exploring the UK's Most Underrated Cities "We're really looking forward to welcoming customers back to the station when it reopens." The station was due to reopen on Monday, but couldn't due to technical issues. Advertisement In a statement on its website, the rail operator said: "Salford Central was due to reopen on Monday 21 April but due to some last-minute technical issues, trains will not be stopping here for a few more days." Nathaniel Yates, rail accessibility activist, said these improvements are a "welcome step forward" as there was still a "long way to go to improve access at train stations". The project promises to deliver the "much-needed modernisation" of the station building and an overall improvement in the customer journey throughout the station. The Bee Network is Greater Manchester's bold bid to build a slick, London-style transport system. Advertisement First announced in 2018, the integrated network brings together buses, trams, cycling and walking routes under one banner, with commuter rail services set to join the hive by 2028. Inspired by the city's famous worker bee symbol, the Bee Network aims to make ditching the car a no-brainer - with yellow-and-black buses and trams zipping across the region as part of a cleaner, smarter way to travel. Meanwhile in London, no trains will run through or stop at Huddersfield station in West Yorkshire between August 30 and September 29, according to Network Rail. The train station is used by almost 10,000 people every day is set to close for a month as part of a £70 million revamp. Advertisement The works are set to spark travel chaos for the roughly 300,000 travellers who use the station each month. After the closure, just three of the six current platforms will reopen on a temporary basis. This is to allow for work on the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) to continue. Network Rail says the closure will allow developers to remodel the track and platforms. Advertisement This change will "transform the layout of the station and enable more trains with more seats to run through the area on a greener, more reliable railway". Huddersfield station has already completed some of its restorative work, which began in November 2023, with the terminus' canopy roof having its refurbishment finished up in April. The station's modernisation programme is due to be complete by 2027. 4 Huddersfield railway station will close for 30 days as part of a £70m upgrade to its interior and track layout Credit: Glen Minikin - The Sun Advertisement 4 The station's roofing had its refurbishment completed in April this year, following 18 months of work Credit: Alamy
